The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it had awarded $898.9 million in grants to airport infrastructure and safety projects.
The 488 grant projects, awarded to 447 airports in 49 states and American Samoa, the northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico, focus on safety, efficiency, environmental stewardship, infrastructure, and security.
“Investing in our nation’s infrastructure is how our country helped spark an aviation industry that now supports millions of jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “These Airport Improvement Program grants will help modernize America’s airports and ensure that our air transportation system remains the safest and most efficient in the world.”
Airports receiving grants include the Glendale Municipal Airport, in Glendale, Ariz., which received $1.4 million to rehabilitate 3,500 feet of Taxiway A pavement to extend its life and enhance safety; the Valdosta Regional Airport in Valdosta, Georgia, which received $5.7 million to rehabilitate 8,000 feet of runway; and Bradley International Airport in Windsor Lock, Conn., which received $11.3 million to reconstruct Taxiway S and bring connector taxiways to current federal design standards.
“These grants represent the legacy and vital role of airport infrastructure grant programs in helping the air transportation system operate safely,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “Investing in our nation’s infrastructure through AIP grants is a cornerstone of our commitment to safety.”
The first program to provide federal investment for airport infrastructure and development was established by President Harry Truman in 1946. Since then, the program has issued more than 89,000 grants totaling $96 billion.