Syracuse airport receives $6.7M grant

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The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program recently awarded Syracuse Hancock International Airport with a $6.7 million grant.

The program provides funding for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. The program is funded through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which is supported by fuel taxes, user fees, and other revenue.

The airport will use the funds to rehabilitate the taxiway. More than 2.3 million people passed through the airport last year, an 11.5 percent increase from 2017.

“This federal funding is great news for Syracuse Hancock International Airport, which will be able to rehabilitate its taxiway to improve safety for travelers flying in and out of Onondaga County,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said. “Investing in airport infrastructure helps promote local economic development in our communities, and I will do everything I can to ensure that our airports receive the resources they need to be safe, modern, and efficient.”

Improving the taxiway will allow the airport to boost safety and operations, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. Improvements also will attract business and tourism to Syracuse and throughout Central New York, Schumer said.