$770m grants to fund US airport upgrades

US Department of Transportation secretary Elaine L. Chao has confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $770.8m in airport infrastructure grants for airports across the country.

The money is the third increment of funding from the $3.18bn Airport Improvement Program. It will provide 569 grants to 522 airports that will fund 949 infrastructure projects including runways, taxiways, aprons, terminals, aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles, and snow removal equipment.

“These critical investments will support upgrading and modernizing airports across the country, which will enhance safety, improve the travel experience and strengthen local economies,” said Chao.

Airports receive a certain amount of AIP entitlement funding each year based on activity levels and project needs. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, the FAA can supplement their entitlements with discretionary funding.

Among the grant awards are:

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Irving, TX, $31m– the grant funds will be used for the rehabilitation of Runway 17-C. Construction on 17-C is scheduled to be complete in 2019.

White Mountain Airport in White Mountain, AK, $4.7m – grant funds will be used to repair Runway 15/33 lighting, the apron where the aircraft park, and the taxiway.

Ontario International Airport in Ontario, CA, $8.7m – funds will be used to repair the Terminal 1 apron and the south cargo apron.

Augusta Regional at Bush Field in Augusta, GA, $14.3m – the grant will fund the repair of the air carrier and general aviation apron.

Ottumwa Regional Airport in Ottumwa, IA, $6.4m – to repair Runway 13/31.

Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, KY, $10.1m – funds will be used to construct the federal portion of a new aircraft rescue and firefighting building.

Bangor International Airport in Bangor, ME, $6.4m – the aircraft sponsor will reconstruct Taxiway A with grant funds.

Columbia Regional Airport in Columbia, MO, $4.1m – the airport sponsor will use the funds to repair a portion of Runway 2/20.

Lincoln Airport in Lincoln, NE, $7m – the funds will be used to repair a portion of Runway 17/35 and the runway lighting.

Tulsa International Airport in Tulsa, OK, $12.3m – the grant will repair a portion of Taxiway J.

Corvallis Municipal Airport in Corvallis, OR, $7.6m – the funding will be used to reconstruct portions of Runway 09/27 and Taxiway A and to repair the lighting for the runway and taxiway 09/27 and Taxiways A and B.

Grand Strand Airport in N. Myrtle Beach, SC, $6.6m – the grant will fund the repair of Runway 05/23.

Tyler Pounds Regional in Tyler, TX, $8m – funds will be used to reconstruct Taxiway F.

Blue Ridge Airport in Spencer, VA, $5.4m – funds will be used to reconstruct Runway 12/30.

Pullman/Moscow in Pullman, WA, $16m – the funds will be used to realign a portion of Runway 6/12.

David Casey

David Casey is Editor in Chief of Routes, the global route development community's trusted source for news and information.