The Federal Aviation Administration recently awarded $845M in grants to improve various international and regional airports throughout the United States. These grants include funding for projects to expand capacity, improve safety, increase accessibility, and mitigate environmental impact.
This funding will pay for projects in 388 airports in 49 states plus Washington, DC. Airports that receive funding won’t have to pay the usual local match thanks to the nearly $100M in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Check out a few of the projects that received funding.
Grants Funding Safety and Capacity Improvement Projects
The following airports were among many that received funding for safety and capacity improvements.
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Savannah International, Savannah, GA. Savannah International was awarded $11.6M in funds to expand the apron area where aircrafts park. The project supports cargo operations that will create permanent jobs and improve the local economy.
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Tucson International, Tucson, AZ. Tucson International received $22.4M to reconfigure the runway to support the safety enhancement program.
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New regional airport, Pella, Iowa. The FAA is funding $3.2M for a new regional airport to replace the Pella Municipal airport and Oskaloosa Municipal airports, which do not meet current or forecasted needs or safety standards.
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Lehigh Valley International Airport, Allentown, PA. The Lehigh Valley airport received $12.6M in funding to rehabilitate and construct a taxiway. This project will support cargo operations that will create permanent jobs in the area.
Grants Funding Projects to Mitigate Environmental Impact
Noise pollution and other environmental concerns will be addressed at the following airports thanks to FAA funding.
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Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall, Baltimore, MA. The international airport is receiving $3.3M to fund projects that mitigate noise pollution for homes near the airport.
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Monroe Regional Airport, Monroe, LA. The FAA awarded Monroe Regional with $8.8M to improve 8,000 feet of the airport’s existing drainage system to eliminate ponding on the airfield’s surface.
Grants Funding Projects for Accessibility for Remote Communities
Small, regional airports are crucial for providing transportation of goods, people, and services to remote communities around the United States. The projects funded by the FAA will improve accessibility for these communities.
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Standing Rock, Fort Yates, ND. The small airport operated by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe was awarded $498,000 to build a new terminal and improve the airfields’ pavement and lighting.
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Togiak, Togiak, Alaska. This airport is essential for residents of the Yupik village and provides year-round transportation of people, goods, and services. The FAA awarded Togiak $12.1M to rebuild the airport’s runways and taxiway and to replace equipment.
Grants Funding Projects to Improve Accessibility for People with Disabilities
Some airports across the US are still in need of projects to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. The FAA provided funding for these projects at the following airports.
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Watertown Regional Airport, Watertown, SD. This airport was funded $9M to reconstruct its existing terminal building to allow for more efficient movement of passengers and baggage. The project includes upgrades to meet ADA requirements.
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Glacier Park International Airport, Kalispell, MT. Glacier Park was awarded $8.5M to expand the terminal to accommodate more passengers and baggage and meet ADA requirements.
