From our community
It wasn’t so long ago that funding for Sugar Land Regional Airport’s (SLRA) air traffic control tower was facing closure because of federal budget sequestration. Three days later, officials received notice that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) would fund the airport’s controllers for 90 days. Now that the drama has ended—at least for now, TxDOT has announced that approximately $2.8 million in funds were approved for airport improvements. The money was approved at the Texas Transportation Commission’s October meeting.
The funds will be used for planned airport improvements, which include hangar relocation and reconstruction. The project will be bid this fall. Project costs will be funded through the city of Sugar Land and TxDOT’s Aviation Facilities Grant Program, which preserves and improves the state’s general aviation system.
This year, TxDOT expects to provide approximately $60 million in funding for planning, constructing and maintaining community airports. Approximately 275 community airports in Texas are eligible for funding. Arrivals and departures from community airports account for more than three million flight hours per year and provide aircraft facilities for agricultural, medical, business and commuter use.
Sugar Land Regional Airport accommodates more than 250 takeoffs and landings every single day, with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies flying into SLRA to conduct business. Sugar Land Regional is one of eight nationally-rated general aviation airports in the state of Texas and the number one reliever airport in the Houston area for both Intercontinental and Hobby Airports. Houston is the fifth most congested airspace in the nation.