More Than Such 1,300 Grants Have Been Made So Far This Year

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao has announced the FAA will award $167.6 million in airport infrastructure grants to 64 airports in 30 states across the United States as part of the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

“The Airport Improvement Program helps to maintain our aviation infrastructure and supports safety, capacity, security and environmental improvements,” said Secretary Chao.  “This is an important investment in these airports and the economic vitality of their respective communities.”

The airport grant program funds various types of airport infrastructure projects, including runways, taxiways, and airport signage, lighting, and markings, all of which help to create thousands of jobs.

To date this year, the U.S. DOT has announced more than 1,300 new grants to nearly 1,200 airports for a total of $2 billion.  These grants will provide funds for 546 runway projects and 459 taxiway projects that are important to the safety and efficiency of the nation’s system of airports.

Airports are entitled to a certain amount of AIP funding each year, based on passenger volume. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, then the FAA can supplement their entitlements with discretionary funding.

Those airports receiving discretionary grants are:

• St. Mary’s County Regional Airport in Leonardtown, MD, $1.9 million – funds will be used to extend Runway 11/29 by 1,200 feet to meet the operational needs of the airport.
• Suffolk Executive Airport in Suffolk, VA, $3.7 million – to repair Runway 04/22 and runway lighting.
• Chicago/Rockford International Airport in Rockford, IL, $10.2 million –  the grant will fund the expansion of the air cargo apron where aircraft park and expand the terminal building.
• Dane County Regional-Truax Field in Madison, WI, $7.7 million – funds will be used to construct a perimeter taxiway system.
• Bolton Field in Columbus, OH, $3.4 million – the project will repair Runway 04/22.
• Warren County/John Lane Field in Lebanon, OH, $2.0 million – to repair Runway 01/19 and the runway lighting.
• Falls International-Einarson Field in International Falls, MN, $3.5 million – grant funds will be used to expand the terminal building.
• Idaho Falls Regional Airport in Idaho Falls, ID, $6.3 million – funds will be used to repair the airport taxiways.
• Illinois Valley Airport in Cave Junction, OR, $1.5 million – to repair the runway lighting.
• Pullman/Moscow Regional Airport in Pullman, WA, $15.2 million – grant funds will be used to build a new Runway 05/23.
• Hilton Head Airport in Hilton Head Island, SC, $7.3 million – funds will be used to extend Runway 03/21.
• Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, NC, $14 million – grant funds will be used to repair Runway 5R/23L.
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Raleigh, NC, $16.5 million – funds will be used to repair a taxiway.
• Fort Lauderdale-Executive Airport in Fort Lauderdale, FL, $2.2 million – the project will fund the repair of a taxiway.
• Peter O Knight Airport in Tampa, FL, $ 1.3 million – the grant will fund the repair of Runway 04/22.
• Rogers Executive-Carter Field in Rogers, AR, $1.6 million – grants funds will be used to expand the airport apron.
• West Memphis Municipal Airport in West Memphis, AR, $3.1 million – the project will expand an airport apron.
• Lafayette Regional/Paul Fournet Field in Lafayette, LA, $1.1 million – grant funds will be used to buy easements near the airport.
• Laredo International Airport in Laredo, TX, $5.6 million – the project will fund the repair of the air cargo apron and widen a taxiway.
• Santa Barbara Municipal Airport in Santa Barbara, CA, $7.3 million – funds will be used to repair Runway 07/25.
• Phoenix Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix, AZ, $3 million – grant funds will be used to construct a taxiway.
• Redding Municipal Airport in Redding, CA, $3.8 million – funds will be used to repair taxiways.

The FAA will issue AIP grants to the airports over the next several weeks in time to take advantage of the summer construction season. The grants will ensure the projects at these airports are either under construction or completed prior to the onset of the winter season.

(Source: FAA news release)

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