The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) FY2021 Airport Improvement Program grants would provide $76 million for improvements to three international airports.
The first installment of the approximately $3.2 billion in funding will go to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International, and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airports.
“Modernizing our nation’s infrastructure is a top priority for President Biden’s economic agenda, and the Airport Improvement Program allows airports nationwide to upgrade and improve the safety of their facilities,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “These improvements—at some of our nation’s busiest airports—will serve our communities and the traveling public as we start to build our country back better.”
Chicago O’Hare will receive $25 million to reimburse the airport for improvements to Runway 9C/27C commissioned Nov. 5, 2020. Dallas-Fort Worth will receive $31 million to construct 10,200 feet of the Northeast end around taxiway system to eliminate the need for aircraft to cross active runways. And Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International will receive $20 million to reimburse the airport for the extension of Runway 10R/28L, completed in September 2015.
“Each airport project provides a benefit to the National Airspace System through safety and capacity enhancement,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “As a former airline pilot, I can attest firsthand that the traveling public are best served when the system handles demand without unnecessary delays.”
The grants were the first of more than 1,500 grants the FAA will issue to airports across the country this year.