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The FAA is providing more funding to airports and airport-owned traffic control towers around the country.On Wednesday the FAA announced it was awarding another $110 million from a bipartisan infrastructure law funding to over 70 airports for projects that will boost safety and expand capacity. This round of funding includes 74 grants to airports in 32 states to modernize airport and runway infrastructure, improve airfield safety and create jobs."The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to support projects to increase safety and efficiency on taxiways and runways at over 70 airports across the country," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. "This is another good step in a multi-billion dollar modernization we're delivering through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make America's aviation systems safer and more efficient."RELATED STORIES:FAA grants nearly $250M to modernize airportsFAA awarding nearly $1B in grants to 114 airports
These grants will help to build taxiways, improve fire-fighting and upgrade snow removal equipment and facilities at airports around the nation. Safety is the FAA's priority, including before, during and after flights. This funding comes from the Airport Infrastructure Grant program, which is one of three aviation programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Currently, almost $9 billion in AIG funding has been granted to airports around the country. These airports have until the end of the fiscal year 2025 to use the AIG allocations.
Airports included in this ground of grant funding include $43 million for Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) for taxiway improvements, $6.8 million for Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) for aircraft rescue and fire fighting, and $497,484 for Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW) for snow removal equipment.
"These grants help airports across the nation sustain and improve critical infrastructure to advance the safest, most efficient airport system in the world," said Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E., FAA associate administrator for airports.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has made a historic investment into the nation's infrastructure and to date, over $427 billion in funding for over 50,000 infrastructure across America's roads, bridges, public transit and rail, airports and ports have been announced. Along with funding for airports around the country, the FAA is looking to fund more towers.
On Thursday the FAA shared it was awarding $20 million to 20 airport-owned traffic control towers around the country, across 17 states. The funding will upgrade existing or build new control towers, another funding installment as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda to rebuild the nation's infrastructure. This funding will go toward smaller and regional airports to improve safety and support crucial aviation operations like commercial passenger flights, cargo flights, emergency services, agricultural aviation and flight training.See the FAA Contract Tower Competitive Grant Program Interactive Map
Some of the airports receiving this round of funding include $2 million to Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP) for ATCT improvements, $1.29 million to Bend Municipal Airport (BDN) for the construction of a new ATCT, and $620,628 to Victoria Regional Airport (VCT) to upgrade critical communications and weather reporting equipment in the existing ATCT. This funding comes from the Airport Infrastructure Grants Federal Contract Tower Competitive Grant program, following nearly $1 billion in funding for 114 airports around the country through the Airport Terminals Program.
"These investments expand the resources available to airports and help ensure airport traffic control towers across the country and the men and women who work in them are able to effectively do their jobs and communicate with pilots," Griffin said. "Not only does this help improve safety at our airports, but it creates good-paying jobs and helps boost local economies."