WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced the Federal Aviation Administration will award $105.3 million in airport infrastructure grants to 133 airports across the United States as part of the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
The airport grant program funds various types of airport infrastructure projects, including runways, taxiways, and airport signage, lighting, and markings which helps to create thousands of jobs.
“AIP allows us to invest in the long-term safety and economic vitality of our nation’s airports,” said FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta.
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. At this time, FAA is providing discretionary funding to five airports based on their high-priority project needs.
Those receiving discretionary grants are listed here, while the entitlement grant recipients can be found at the link below:
Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, CA, $11 Million – to construct Taxiway T which will connect the north and south runway complexes, and to construct the east and west aircraft parking aprons at the Tom Bradley International Terminal building.
Sioux County Regional Airport in Sioux Center, IA, $4.7 Million – to complete construction of the new airport which will replace the Orange City Municipal Airport and Sioux Center Municipal Airport.
Orange County Airport in Montgomery, NY, $14.6 million –to realign an existing runway at this general aviation airport creating a standard safety area. This grant also includes projects to realign the parallel taxiway, connector taxiways, and various navigational aids affected by the runway realignment.
John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Columbus, OH, $533 Thousand – to reimburse for the construction of a replacement Runway 10R/28L which was commissioned on August 22, 2013.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Avoca, PA, $5.4 million –to rehabilitate Taxiway B and D at the airport. The project also includes drainage improvements, signage, grading, and lighting.
Those receiving discretionary grants are listed here, while a full listing of all grant recipients can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/grantapportion_data/media/FY17-AIP-Grants-Ready-to-Go-2017-07-06a.pdf
The FAA will issue AIP grants to the airports over the next several weeks in time to take advantage of the spring and 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, which comes early in late fall in some parts of the country.