US Transportation Secretary Elaine L Chao has revealed plans to award US$779m in supplemental funding for infrastructure grants to 127 airports across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
The newly announced funding is in addition to the US$3.31bn awarded in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding during fiscal year 2018, and US$205m awarded in the first tranche of supplemental AIP funding in September 2018.
Selected projects include runway reconstruction and rehabilitation, and the maintenance of taxiways, aprons and terminals. The construction and equipment supported by this funding increase the airports’ safety, emergency response capabilities and capacity, and could support further potential growth and development within each airport’s region.
“This supplemental funding enables us to invest in important infrastructure needs at the nation’s airports, especially those serving smaller and rural communities,” said Chao.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a Federal Register notice on July 9, 2018, explaining the evaluation criteria and submission process. It awarded US$205m to 37 airports in 34 states in September 2018. The following month, airports submitted additional funding requests for grant awards in fiscal years 2019 or 2020.
Under Chao’s leadership, the FAA is administering the supplemental funding to strengthen the safety and efficiency of US airports. These investments increase the nation’s competitiveness and improve the quality of life for the traveling public. According to the FAA’s most recent economic analysis, US civil aviation accounts for US$1.6tn in economic activity and supports nearly 11 million jobs.
