US Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $840 million in airport infrastructure grants.
This will mark the first allotment of the total $3.18 billion in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding for airports across the United States.
“This significant investment in airport improvements will fund construction and rehabilitation projects that will help maintain high levels of safety in US aviation,” said US DOT secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The 432 grants will fund infrastructure projects at 381 airports around the country.
Some of the grant awards include: $17.1 million awarded to Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport in Utqiagvik, AK, with funds being used to construct an aircraft rescue and firefighting building, a sand and chemical storage building, a snow removal equipment building, and an emergency operations centre building.
McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, TN, will be granted $14.1 million - used to reconstruct a runway.
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, AL, will be granted $11.5 million – used to construct an aircraft rescue and firefighting building, acquire two aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles, and conduct an environmental study.
Bishop Airport in Bishop, CA, will be granted $4.6 million to rehabilitate some of the airport’s taxiways.
In Des Moines, IA, Des Moines International Airport will be granted $10.3 million – used to reconstruct a runway and an apron.
Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, KY, will gain $11 million to construct a taxiway.
Fitchburg Municipal Airport in Fitchburg, MA, $13.8 million grant funds will be used to rehabilitate a taxiway and reconstruct and extend a runway.
In Klamath Falls, OR, Crater Lake-Klamath regional airport has been granted $6.7 million to replace the airport’s wind cone, reconstruct and rehabilitate taxiways, and rehabilitate taxiway lighting.
Virginia Tech/Montgomery executive airport in Blacksburg, VA, $1.3 million – the airport will use funds to extend a runway.