FAA Announces Over $2.5 Million in Additional Recovery Act Airport Grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that three additional airport projects have been selected for funding, paid for with more than $2.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars that became available because of airport projects that came in under budget nationwide.

“With these additional Recovery Act dollars, we can provide a bigger boost to economic growth while we modernize more of our nation’s airports,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Earlier this month, the FAA announced that five other airport projects would receive $9 million in Recovery Act funding that became available thanks to low bids and under-budget airport projects.

“We are thrilled that we have been able to stretch Recovery Act dollars to meet the needs of more airports. These projects will improve airport operations and help our airspace system to run more efficiently,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

The three additional rehabilitation projects are:

• Lawrence, Mass., Municipal Airport
  An ARRA grant for $1.2 million will fund several pavement rehabilitation projects on airport taxiways and aircraft parking aprons.
• Hartsfield-JacksonAtlanta International Airport
  This $1 million ARRA grant will fund the ongoing construction and paving of the new international terminal apron.
• CharlesM. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, Calif.
  A $379,000 ARRA grant will allow the airport to complete the second phase of its terminal rehabilitation and replace the terminal building roof.

Under the Recovery Act, more than $1.3 billion has been made available nationwide for both airport improvement projects and air traffic control facility and system upgrades. Because of low construction bids for projects, more Recovery Act dollars were available for additional facilities, equipment and airport projects. These grants have been distributed to airports that serve commercial passengers, cargo and general aviation.