FAA Announces Arizona’s Airports To Receive Nearly $70 Million From Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $2.89 billion made available by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to 3,075 airports around the nation. The money can be invested in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has given us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build safer and more sustainable airports that connect individuals to jobs and communities to the world,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With this new funding, urban, regional and rural airports across the country now can get to work on projects that have waited for years, modernizing their infrastructure and building a better America.”
Airports can submit proposals to the FAA for review in the coming weeks. The FAA encourages applicants to prioritize projects that increase airport safety, equity and sustainability. The agency also plans to conduct outreach to the minority business community about these opportunities at airports across the nation.
Airports in 50 states and five territories are the beneficiaries of this first round of funding. Just some of the funding at airports include:
San Diego International, CA $24.2M
Denver International, CO $59.1M
Great Falls International, MT $1.89M
Asheville Regional, NC $4.3M
Yeager Airport, WV $2.1M
Unalaska Airport, AK $1M
Luis Munoz Marin International, San Juan $11.2M
The FAA said that Arizona’s 58 airports will receive $69.5 million over the next year for infrastructure improvements.
The money can be allocated for taxiways, runways, safety and sustainability projects, terminal improvements, airport-transit connections and roadway projects. This is the first of five rounds of funding Arizona airports will receive.
Of the $69.5 million allocated funds, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which will be awarded about $41 million.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will use the funding to begin construction on a new taxiway. The taxiway is estimated to cost $280 million. It would connect the north and south airfields on the west side of the airport.
The additional taxiway will increase the airports efficiency, decrease wait times for takeoffs and landings and allow passengers to be able to get to their gates quicker.
Additional projects planned include a connector bridge between terminals 3 and 4 and additional infrastructure improvements to terminal 4.
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is set to receive $4.5 million.
The East valley airport plans to use some of the funds to replace four aging portable gates that were installed on a temporary basis back in 2007. Plans also include an indoor walkway that connects those gates to the other terminal.
In addition, they will add more gates, which the airport is hopeful will bring in new airlines.
The money will come from the Airport Infrastructure Grant program, one of three new aviation programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law provides $15 billion over five years for this program. The FAA estimates the backlog of airport modernization and safety projects totals $43.6 billion.
For additional program information and a detailed list of airport recipients, visit www.faa.gov/bil/airport-infrastructure.