The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it is awarding $518 million in funds towards the improvement of critical airport infrastructure across the US.
The FAA said in its announcement that the award is part of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), and includes 416 grants to airports across the U.S. to fund a variety of projects such as construction and improvement of airport facilities, repairs to runways and taxiways, maintenance of airfield elements like lighting or signage, and purchasing equipment needed to operate and maintain airports.
.@FAANews‘ #AirportGrants will help improve airports around the country and better serve all Americans. Learn more about the Airport Improvement Program https://t.co/TftHtojJLX
— TransportationGov (@USDOT) June 7, 2022
Based on passenger volume, airports in the US are entitled to a certain amount of AIP funding each year.
“In communities of all sizes, airports are vital to local economies, sustaining jobs and getting people and goods where they need to go,” U.S. transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.
“We’re pleased to announce this important funding to help improve airports around the country and better serve all Americans.”
“We’re investing $518 million in airports across America so communities big and small can continue to safely and efficiently connect with the rest of the world,” said FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Shannetta Griffin, P.E.
A couple of airports that will receive parts of the grant include:
Yellowstone Airport (West Yellowstone, Montana): $2.6 million to construct a new 36,000 square foot terminal building to accommodate increased passenger demand.
Naples Municipal (Naples, Florida): $3.5 million to improve 684,400 square feet of the airport’s existing drainage system to eliminate ponding on airfield surfaces to meet FAA design standards.
The FAA has awarded a total of $1.1 billion of the $3.2 billion total funding available in Fiscal Year 2022. A complete listing of grants can be viewed here.
