WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced more than$90 million in Federal Aviation Administration (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.”
The following 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.
$33.7 Million in Environmental Grants to Airports
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced the recent award of $33.7 million in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants to nine airports around the country to reduce emissions and improve air quality through the FAA’s Voluntary Airport Low Emission (VALE) and Zero Emissions Airport Vehicle (ZEV) programs.
“These grants represent the U.S. Department of Transportation’s continued commitment to reduce greenhouse emissions and work with airports and communities to provide healthier air quality for all Americans,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
The VALE program supports the objectives of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. That plan builds on efforts to address climate change and support clean energy innovation. The Climate Action Plan also builds upon historic investments in advanced vehicle and fuel technologies, public transit, and rail under the Recovery Act. In addition, the investments include ambitious new fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, which the Administration has worked to develop since 2009 in collaboration with industry.
VALE is designed to reduce all sources of airport ground emissions in areas that do not meet air quality standards. The FAA established the program in 2005 to help airport sponsors meet their air quality responsibilities under the Clean Air Act. Through these programs, airport sponsors can use Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds and Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) to help acquire refueling and recharging stations, electrified gates, low-emission vehicles, and other airport-related air quality improvements.
The ZEV program, created through the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, allows airport sponsors to use AIP funds to purchase vehicles that produce zero exhaust emissions. AIP funds can cover up to 50 percent of these total project costs. Airport sponsors also can use federal funds to pay for any needed infrastructure construction or modification of infrastructure needed to facilitate the delivery of the fuel and services for these vehicles.
“We applaud these airports for working to reduce ground emissions and being responsible stewards of the environment and good neighbors to surrounding communities,” said FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta.
The FAA is awarding $31.1 million in VALE grants to following airports:
– Chicago O’Hare International, $3.6 million – to purchase and install 124 electrical charging stations. These stations will allow airlines to use electric-powered ground service equipment, including belt loaders, aircraft tractors, and baggage and cargo tugs. Many of these charging stations are multi-port stations that can potentially support up to a total of 326 pieces of electrical equipment.
– Memphis International, $2.4 million – to purchase and install 11 ground-power units (GPUs) and 11 preconditioned air units (PCAs) for passenger gates.
– George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston, $1.5 million– to purchase and install five PCAs for passenger gates and 68 electrical ground support recharging ports.
– Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, $3.1 million– to purchase and install 23 GPUs, five PCAs and two air chilling units for passenger gates.
– Los Angeles International Airport, $4 million– to purchase and install 9 GPUs and associated electrical infrastructure for remote parking sites.
– Portland International Airport, $5.7 million – to purchase and install 27 PCAs at passenger gates.
– San Francisco International Airport, $10.6 million– to purchase and install 5 GPUs and five PCAs and associated infrastructure at five remote maintenance stations.
– Boise Airport, $200,000 –to purchase and install a solar-powered system to heat water for the terminal.
The remaining funds of $2.6 million were awarded in a ZEV grant to:
– Indianapolis International – to purchase six electric shuttle buses for passenger service from terminal to terminal and three charging stations and required infrastructure needed to charge the vehicles.
Through VALE, airports are reducing ozone emissions by approximately 840 tons per year, which is equivalent to removing about 46,912 cars and trucks from the road annually. In fiscal year 2015, the FAA issued $23.4 million in VALE grants for 13 projects at 12 airports. Since 2005, the FAA has funded 92 VALE projects at 46 airports, which represents a total investment of $251 million in clean airport technology. That amount includes $196 million in federal grants and $55 million in local airport matching funds. This marks the second year the FAA has awarded ZEV grants that provide funding to replace hydrocarbon burning buses with electric buses.
The Airport Improvement Program (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.
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