USDOT announces $660m in grants for airport upgrades

The US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $659.8m in airport infrastructure grants for the modernization of 390 airports. The capital assistance, part of a $3.18bn Airport Improvement Program (AIP), includes 450 grants. The new grants constitute the second round of funding and will support 664 projects such as terminals, aircraft rescue, runways, taxiways, aprons, firefighting vehicles and snow removal equipment.USDOT secretary Elaine Chao said: “Our airports are essential in supporting $1.6 trillion in total economic activity and nearly 11 million jobs; these federal grants will help our airports to maintain safety and improve efficiency for freight and passengers.”University of Illinois–Willard Airport in Illinois will secure $3m for repairing airport taxiways A5 and A6, while Johnson County Executive Airport in Kansas will be awarded $5.6m to repair runway 18/36.