The Federal Aviation Administration has opened the application process for airports to submit projects for the first $1 billion of the Airport Terminal Program funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant is intended to fund safe, sustainable and accessible airport terminals, on-airport rail access projects and airport-owned airport traffic control towers. Projects may also include multimodal development.
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to not just build new airport terminals, but build them in a way that brings opportunity to forgotten communities, increases competition and reduces environmental impact,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
FAA welcomes projects that will improve airfield safety through terminal relocation, replace aging facilities, increase capacity, encourage competition, improve energy efficiency (including LEED accreditation standards) and increase or improve access to passengers with disabilities and historically disadvantaged populations. Projects that relocate, reconstruct, repair or improve an airport-owned air traffic control tower are also eligible.
Eligible airports include those operated by authorities, cities, territories and tribes within the national air transportation system. Large hub airports will receive up to 55 percent of the total funding; medium hub airports will receive up to 15 percent of the total funding; and small hub airports will receive up to 20 percent of the total funding. At least 10 percent of the total funding will go to non-hub and non-primary airports.
“This historic new terminal program will allow our airports to build state of the art facilities that are resilient to climate change impacts and achieve environmental sustainably,” said Associate Administrator of Airports Shannetta Griffin.
The Notice of Funding Opportunity outlines the criteria for airports to apply. Airports are encouraged to submit eligible projects as soon as possible, but must do so by March 28, 2022.
The Airport Terminal grant program provides a total of $5 billion in funding over five years. It is one of three new aviation programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) have welcomed the funding.
“As air travel rebounds from the tumult of the pandemic, this announcement of $1 billion in long-overdue funding for terminal upgrades is welcome news,” the Chairs said. “These investments will increase capacity, expand accessibility for people with disabilities, reduce our carbon footprint, and improve airfield safety, all while creating good-paying jobs. Airports are critical to commerce, our supply chains, and everyday life—helping both passengers and businesses alike thrive.”
