WASHINGTON. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding $527.8 million in airport infrastructure grants to 584 airports across the United States as part of the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which helps maintain the nation’s aviation infrastructure and supports safety, capacity, security, and environmental improvements, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao reveals.
“Investing in our airport infrastructure ensures the safe and efficient operation of our air transportation system,” FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta says. “This funding program helps us maintain, renovate, and build airport infrastructure at airports.”
The airport grant program funds such airport infrastructure projects as runways, taxiways, and airport signage, lighting, and marking – helping to create thousands of jobs.
Airports are entitled to AIP funding annually, based on passenger volume. When an airport’s capital project needs exceed its available entitlement funds, the FAA can supplement the airport’s entitlements with discretionary funding, officials explain. Currently, the FAA is providing discretionary funding to 38 airports based on their high-priority project needs.
Those receiving discretionary grants include:
Ainsworth Regional Airport in Ainsworth, NE, $683,000 – this grant will fund two runway projects. The first project will repair and apply a protective coating to Runway 17/35 at this general aviation airport, to extend its useful life. The second project will repair Runway 13/31. The projects will be completed in phases so that only one runway is closed at a time. The projects will begin when the airport receives grant funds and will take approximately 50 days to complete.
Asheville Regional Airport in Asheville, NC, $18.2 million – this is the seventh phase of a nine-phase project at this small hub airport. A temporary runway will be built while Runway 17/35 is rebuilt and relocated 75 feet to the west to meet FAA design standards. The lighting and navigational aids also will be relocated. The entire project will take 13 months to complete.
Bay Minette Municipal Airport in Bay Minette AL, $1.2 million – the grant will fund the rehabilitation to Runway 8/26 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize debris on the runway.
Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field in Boise, ID - $350,000 – to install six noise monitoring systems, eight portable noise monitors, computer equipment and reporting software to conform with the Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program.
Bozeman Yellowstone International in Bozeman, MT, $1.9 million – to rehabilitate the primary taxiway, general aviation taxiway, associated connector taxiways, and adjoining hangar taxilanes needed to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement.
Brookings Regional Airport in Brookings, SC, $1.2 million – to rehabilitate a portion of runway 17/35 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to keep debris off the runway.
Chicago O’Hare International in Chicago, IL, $60 million – the first grant for this large hub airport will allow the construction phase of Runway 9C/27C to begin, which includes siting utilities, grading, and pavement work. The runway is expected to be commissioned in 2020. The second grant will reimburse the airport for projects associated with the construction of Runway 10C/28C, including taxiway systems, navigational aids, site utilities, and existing facility relocations. The runway was commissioned in October of 2013.
Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Eau Claire, WI, $491,511 – this grant will fund the design and construction of taxi lanes M and N to provide access to aircraft hangars.
Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Columbia, SC, $8 million – this grant will fund the second and final construction phase for concrete overlay of 12,000 feet of the existing Taxiway A needed to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement.
Dallas Love Field in Dallas, Texas, $7.9 million – to rehabilitate the existing passenger terminal apron pavement that had reached the end of its useful life.
Dane County Regional-Truax Field in Madison, WI, $4 million – this project is phase one of a three-phase project. The project will build Taxiway M of this small hub airport to connect Runways 14/32 and 18/36. The construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2017 and be completed by the fall of 2019. The runway will be closed for three weeks in September 2017. The work will be accomplished while the Wisconsin National Guard is deployed.
Denver International in Denver, CO, $12.4 million – is a large hub airport that is receiving grant funding to renovate several airfield projects including Runway 8/26, runway lighting for Runway 8/26, a taxiway and the associated lighting, and a vehicle service road on the airport.
Devils Lake Regional in Devils Lake, ND, $2.5 million – to rehabilitate taxiways A1 and A2 and to purchase aircraft rescue and firefighting safety equipment, and rehabilitate Runway 13/31.
Dillingham Airport in Dillingham, AK, $14 million – the funds will be used to rebuild Runway 1/19 at this small hub airport to ensure the structural integrity of the runway pavement. The project is expected to begin in the summer of 2017 and be completed before the winter of 2018. During construction, only half of the 6,400-foot runway will be used and there will be no operations between 8 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. The airport sponsor has developed a plan with the airline servicing the airport to manage operations during the construction.
Fairfield County in Winnsboro, SC, $709,586 – rehabilitate the taxiway and runway lighting for Runway 4/22 that has reached the end of its useful life and requires rehabilitation to enhance safe airfield operations during low visibility conditions.
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport in Flagstaff, AZ, $7.8 million – the funds will be used to restore the structural integrity of 8,800-foot Runway 3/21 at this small hub airport. The project will begin in the fall and will be completed by early 2018. The runway will be closed nightly for 30 days and all day for seven days prior to completion of the project. The airline and the public have been notified of the planned project impacts. The airline has made the necessary preparations in anticipation of the runway construction and related closures.
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale FL, $20 million – will receive a grant to fund a runway extension project completed in 2014 that the FAA agreed to pay for through a Letter of Intent. The airport extended Runway 10L/28R to enhance airfield capacity.
Gary/Chicago International in Gary, IN, $4.9 million – this grant will fund the last payment from a Letter of Intent for the Runway 12/30 extension project at Gary/Chicago International Airport. This phase of the project includes airfield paving, grading, and site utilities.
Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport in Gulfport, MS, $3.4 million – the grant is for noise mitigation measures for 347 residences near the airport. The soundproofing projects include residential sound insulation and easement acquisition to comply with the airport's approved noise compatibility program.
Haines Airport in Haines, AK, $11.4 million – the funds will be used for three projects at this commercial service airport. The first project will repair 45,000 square yards in the area where the aircraft park on the airfield, known as the apron. The second project will fund a 1,370-foot perimeter fence installation to prevent unauthorized people and vehicles from entering the airfield. The final project will reconstruct Taxiway A. All three projects will begin in the spring of 2017 and be completed by the fall of 2017. During construction, a temporary apron will be available for some aircraft and other aircraft will be temporarily relocated to another airport.
Huntsville International-Carl T. Jones Field in Huntsville, AL, $5.5 million – this grant will fund the construction of a new parallel Taxiway C to enhance safety by reducing mid-field runway crossings by cargo aircraft.
Indianapolis International in Indianapolis, IN, $2.8 million – the grant will fund the renovation of Taxiway C at this medium hub airport including rehabilitation of the overlay work for the shoulders of the existing taxiway.
Key West International in Key West, FL, $4.1 million – the grant will fund soundproof 175 residents near the airport.
Metropolitan Oakland International in Oakland, CA, $7 million – the grant award will rehabilitate Runway 12/30 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize debris on the runway.
Michigan State Block Grants program, in Lansing, MI, $2 million – the grant is for Saginaw County H.W. Browne Airport for a project to rehabilitate a portion of Runway 09/27.
Millard Airport in Omaha, NE, $450,000 – the project will replace the edge lighting system for Taxiway Z at this reliever airport because it has reached the end of its useful life. The new lighting system will enable airfield operations during low-visibility conditions. Portions of the taxiway will be shut down to complete the installation. The project will begin when the airport sponsor receives grant funds and will take approximately 90 days to complete.
Mobile Regional Airport in Mobile, AL, $3.4 million – to reconstruct the runway lighting for Runway 15/33, and to rehabilitate Runway 15/33. In addition, the grant will fund the purchase of an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle.
Ocala International-Jim Taylor Field in Ocala, FL, $999,081 – to install a 26,000 wildlife fence around the airport and replacement aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle.
Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, $730,508 – the grant will be used to update the existing airport master plan study to show current and future needs of the airport.
Palmer Municipal in Palmer, AK, $9.1 million – the grant will remove obstructions, rehabilitate Runway 16/34, expand the apron, improve the runway safety area, and rehabilitate Taxiway B.
Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet in Pellston, MI, $3.7 million – to rehabilitate Runway 14/32. This project will fund the construction phase of rehabilitation of 6,513 feet of Runway 14/32 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize debris on the runway.
Pryor Field Regional Airport in Decatur, AL, $783,644 – to reconstruct the runway edge lighting for Runway 18/36.
Pullman/Moscow Regional Airport in Pullman/Moscow, WA, $16 million – this project is phase four of an eight-phase project to realign Runway 6/24 to meet FAA design standards. This small hub airport project includes additional runway grading, drainage, and the construction of an electrical building. The project is expected to begin in late May and be completed in the fall of 2020.
Reno/Stead Airport in Reno, NV, $2.6 million – to reconstruct a portion of the existing apron pavement to accommodate larger aircraft.
Salt Lake City International in Salt Lake City, UT, $7.3 million – the grant funds will allow the airport to renovate Runway 14/32 and the runway lighting associated with that runway.
Theodore Francis Green State in Providence, RI, $5.1 million – the grant will fund noise soundproofing projects for 336 residences near the airport. The soundproofing projects include sound insulation and mitigation to residences adversely impacted by aircraft noise to comply with the airport's approved noise compatibility plan.
Weedon Field in Eufaula, Al, $1 million – this project will fund the rehabilitation of a portion of Runway 18/36 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize debris on the runway.
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield-Springfield, MA, $2.4 million – to purchase land and acquire home adversely impacted by aircraft noise. This project will include the relocation of approximately 25 residents.
Airports receiving entitlement grants are listed online at http://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/grantapportion_data/.
The FAA will issue AIP grants to the airports over the next several weeks in time to take advantage of the spring and summer construction season. The grants will ensure the projects at these airports are either under construction or completed prior to the onset of the winter season, which comes early in late fall in some parts of the country.
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