Nearly $800M in grants awarded to US airports

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has announced that the Trump administration will award nearly $800 million in airport safety and infrastructure grants through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to 46 states, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Marshall Islands.

“This nearly $800 million federal investment in airport infrastructure will strengthen safety, improve travel, generate jobs and provide many economic benefits for local communities,” said Chao.

According to the International Airport Review, the total includes $689 million from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and $104.4 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants to equal a 100 per cent Federal share.

“These 383 grants will allow airport sponsors to either begin or complete construction projects that will maintain the safety and efficiency of our national airport system,” said FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson.

The article reports these grants will be used for a variety of critical infrastructure and safety projects. Some of the projects include purchasing aircraft rescue and fire-fighting equipment, constructing runways and taxiways, repairing runways and taxiways, installing aircraft lighting and signage, conducting airport master plan studies and installing airport perimeter fencing.