U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced more than $90m in FAA grants to six airports in Alabama, Missouri, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wyoming for airport runway, taxiway, and apron projects.
“A safe and efficient air transportation system for the traveling public requires building and maintaining the airport infrastructure at our nation’s airports,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “When we fund critical projects like these, we’re making an important investment in our future while also creating jobs and supporting local economies across the country.”
Six airports recently received Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants:
Huntsville International Airport (Alabama) – The Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority received $9.6 million for Huntsville International Airport-Carl T. Jones Field. The funds will be used for the second phase of a five-phase project to construct a new parallel Taxiway C. This phase of the project will include site preparation and drainage improvements for the 0.6 mile-long segment of Taxiway “C” that connects the cargo aircraft parking area to the north end of Runway 18L/36R. The new taxiway will enhance safety at the airport by reducing mid-field runway crossings by cargo aircraft. The project will begin in early spring 2017 and is expected to be completed in August 2017.
Kansas City International Airport (Missouri) – This airport received $19 million to fund the reconstruction of approximately 9,000 feet of Taxiway B, which has reached the end of its useful life. In addition to returning the pavement’s structural integrity, the project will correct taxiway design geometry and improve airfield lighting, signs, circuits, and markings. Taxiway B is important to airport operations because it is parallel to Runway 1L/19R, which provides primary access to the terminal apron area, commercial aprons, and the general aviation apron. The project design is nearly complete and will begin construction in the spring of 2017 with anticipated completion in November 2017.
Bismarck Municipal Airport (North Dakota) – The airport will use $13.5 million to fund the first phase of a three-phase project to reconstruct a portion of Runway 13/31. This portion of the runway has reached the end of its useful life and can no longer be repaired. This project will ensure the Runway Safety Area grading will meet current standards. The project design is currently underway, with construction set to begin in early spring of 2017.
Portland International Airport (Oregon) – This $11.6 million project will fund the reconstruction of approximately 3,300 feet of Taxiway B Center, including exits B3-B5 and B8 holding bay areas and intersection at Taxiway B and M, which has reached the end of its useful life. This project is critical to airport operations because it will keep aircraft taxi times from increasing to and from the terminal area. Two other elements to the project include widening the taxiway shoulders from 15 feet to 30 feet to meet airport design standards and replacing and installing drains under the taxiway to meet requirements. The taxiway project will begin in April 2017 and is expected to be completed in October 2017.
McGhee Tyson Airport (Tennessee) – The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority received $27.9 million for the third phase of a five-phase project to reconstruct Runway 5L-23R. This phase of the project includes site preparation, earthwork and drainage improvements. The reconstructed Runway 5L-23R will enhance safety by meeting design standards to correct the pilot’s line of sight and remove vertical curves along the runway centerline. McGhee Tyson is a small hub airport that provides service to commercial aviation, general aviation, air cargo, and the Tennessee Air National Guard. The third phase of the project will begin in late October 2016 and is expected to be completed by September 2017.
Jackson Hole Airport (Wyoming) – $8.6 million in funding will repair approximately 33,000 square yards of the existing commercial service apron, specifically aircraft parking areas eight and nine, which have reached the end of their useful life. This project is the fourth phase of a six-phase plan. The project is scheduled to begin construction in early spring 2017 with an expected completion by October 2017.
“Ensuring the infrastructure needs of our commercial, general aviation, and civilian-military use airports is critically important to the FAA,” said FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta. “We will continue to provide funding to maintain airport infrastructure across the country.”
In fiscal year 2016, the FAA issued 1,768 new grants to airports. AIP provides more than $3 billion in annual funding for projects that are vital to maintaining the safety, security, capacity, efficiency, and environmental stewardship of the nation’s airports. More than 3,300 airports are eligible for AIP grants benefiting commercial passengers, cargo operations, and general aviation activities throughout the nation.