FAA grants nearly $250M to modernize airports

This year the FAA will award $245.9 million in Fiscal Year 2024 Airport Infrastructure Grants under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding includes 153 grants in 37 states in an ongoing effort to modernize airport infrastructure, improve runway safety and create new jobs. "We saw a record number of passengers fly during the recent holiday season, and we can expect increased demand for air travel to continue," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. "These investments from the Biden-Harris administration are making it possible to modernize our country's aging airport infrastructure to meet this demand today and ensure safe, efficient travel into the future."RELATED STORY:FAA awards $66m for airport improvements across country In the last decade, inconsistencies in funding have delayed the modernization of the country's technology and infrastructure to support the national airspace. Funding has been granted through President Biden's Infrastructure Law and helps to ensure the American flying public stays safe while traveling and that the nation's air travel remains the safest and most efficient in the world. The Infrastructure law has invested $25 billion in U.S. airports over five years. Airports of different sizes and catering to different sectors of aviation are receiving the necessary funding to maintain or improve safety and operate with maximum efficiency. "Collectively, these grants help airports across the nation make timely improvements to key critical infrastructure which ensures passengers have a safe, efficient and enjoyable experience as they travel," said Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E., FAA associate administrator for airports. Safety will remain a priority as the air travel demand continues to increase. Several of the grants are being introduced today to reduce the risk of runway incursions. The funding will help to reconfigure taxiways that may cause confusion, install new lighting systems and provide better flexibility on the airfield. Funding is going to airports across the country, including:Willow Run Airport (YIP) - YIP is receiving $2.2 million to construct an 8,617-foot parallel taxiway to eliminate the need for aircraft to back-taxi on the runway. Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) - MSN is receiving $2 million to rehabilitate an existing on-airport roadway to provide a path for airport rescue firefighting trucks, airport vehicles or ground service equipment to operate without entering movement areas. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM) - BHM is getting $1.1 million to improve Runway 6/24 safety area to improve the safety of operations at the airport. San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) - SBD was granted $1.7 million to improve an existing on-airport roadway and provide a path for aircraft rescue firefighting trucks, airport vehicles or ground service equipment to operate without having to enter any movement areas. Barkley Regional Airport (PAH) - This Kentucky airport was granted $379,620 to expand an existing on-airport roadway by an additional 6,100 feet and provide a path for the aircraft rescue firefighting trucks, airport vehicles or ground service equipment, enabling them to operate without entering movement areas. Mansfield Municipal Airport (1B9) - This airport was granted $254,880 to acquire two easements for obstruction removal in the Runway 32 approach path. Westfield-Barnes Regional (BAF) - BAF will receive $531,000 to remove airport tree obstructions from the Runway 15 approach path. Knox County Regional (RKD) - RKD will get $38,151 to conduct an environmental assessment of the proposed easement acquisition and obstruction removal within the Runway 31 approach surface. The project will remove an airport vegetation obstruction from the Runway 13/31 approach and departure paths. Other notable grants include: Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW) - DFW is receiving $45 million to rehabilitate 13,400 feet of Runway 17R/35L to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and reduce foreign object debris. Sitka Rocky Gutierre (SIT) - This Alaskan airport is receiving $18 million to expand an existing terminal building by an additional 16,000 square feet to accommodate existing passengers. Ontario International (ONT) - ONT was granted $15.2 million to rehabilitate 10,200 feet of the existing Runway 8R/26L and reconstruct 668 feet of Taxiway S8 pavement to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and minimize foreign object debris. Des Moines International (DSM) - DSM is receiving $5.5 million to construct a new 295,000-square-foot terminal building to include six gates and related areas to increase passenger throughput and reduce delays. Roughly $1.7 million will be granted to construct or improve fuel farms including: • $448,000 at Boone Municipal (BNW) in Boone, Iowa • $400,000 at Oskaloosa Municipal (OOA) in Oskaloosa, Iowa • $336,000 at Nebraska City Municipal (AFK) in Nebraska City, Nebraska • $330,000 at Denison Municipal (DNS) in Denison, Iowa • $223,000 at Kanab Municipal (KNB) in Kanab, Utah $2.1 million will be used to buy aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles including: • $1.8 million at Garden City Regional (GCK)in Garden City, Kansas • $294,609 at Rutland/Southern Vermont Regional (RUT) in Vermont About $70 million will be used on terminal projects at 11 airports including • $274,501 at North Big Horn County (U68) in Cowley, Wyoming • $51,814 at Dexter Regional (1B0) in Dexter, Maine To date, the administration has announced over $415 in funding for over 46,000 infrastructure projects around the country and has mobilized over $640 billion in private-sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the U.S.