Feds Grant Over $105 Million To California Airports

CALIFORNIA —On Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced grants for airports across the country. In California, 28 airports received $105 million in grants for airport safety and infrastructure improvements.

Across the country, 405 airports in 50 states and six U.S. territories received grant funds, orchestrated by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. The Trump Administration awarded over $1.2 billion in total for the infrastructure and safety grants, according to Chao.

Long Beach Airport was allotted the largest sum, $27.3 million, for taxiway construction and reconstruction projects.

San Diego Airport came in second, with a sum of $18 million, to aid in residential noise mitigation measures.

Los Angeles International Airport received the third-largest grant among airports in California, $17.5 million, for residential noise mitigation measures.

Sonoma Airport rounded out the largest grants, with $13 million to be put toward a new terminal building expansion for Charles M. Schultz Airport.

Thus far, in 2020, the Administration has delivered $10 billion in economic assistance to airports across America during the COVID-19 public health emergency, Chao says.

In California, the federal grants were distributed between 28 airports:

• $27,306,081 to Long Beach Airport/Daugherty Field for taxiway construction and reconstruction.
• $18,023,885 to San Diego International Airport for residential noise mitigation measures.
• $17,500,000 to Los Angeles International Airport for residential noise mitigation measures.
• $13,798,605 to Charles M. Schulz * Sonoma County Airport for terminal building expansion.
• $3,338,755 to Napa County Airport for taxiway reconstruction.
• $3,297,825 to Lake Tahoe Airport for apron reconstruction
• $3,221,631 to San Francisco International Airport for residential noise mitigation measures.
• $3,115,281 to Chico Municipal Airport for taxiway reconstruction.
• $2,887,507 to Bob Hope Airport in Burbank for taxiway and apron improvements.
• $2,833,707 to Metropolitan Oakland International Airport for taxiway improvements.
• $1,931,823 to Monterey Regional Airport for constructing a service road.
• $1,853,506 to Castle Airport in Atwater for runway improvements.
• $1,270,756 to John Wayne Airport in Orange County for installing airfield guidance signs, runway lighting and navigational aids.
• $1,111,110 to Fresno Yosemite International Airport for residential noise mitigation measures.
• $650,689 to Palo Alto Airport for apron reconstruction.
• $532,000 to Bishop Airport to conduct an airport-related environmental study.
• $500,000 to Oxnard Airport for runway and taxiway reconstruction.
• $333,333 to Mojave Air and Space Port for taxiway improvements.
• $291,028 to Corning Municipal Airport to install perimeter fencing.
• $240,101 to Riverside Municipal Airport for acquiring or rehabilitating an emergency generator and installing airfield guidance signs and navigational aids.
• $213,191 to California City Municipal Airport for runway pavement sealing.
• $207,809 to Inyokern Airport for runway improvements.
• $166,666 to Wasco-Kern County Airport for apron and taxiway improvements.
• $165,000 to Whiteman Airport in Los Angeles for zero-emissions vehicle/infrastructure.
• $105,000 for Mesa Del Rey Airport in King City for taxiway improvements.
• $97,500 to Rio Vista Municipal Airport for installing a runway vertical/visual guidance system.
• $75,000 to Jack McNamara Field in Crescent City to conduct a miscellaneous study.
• $42,165 to Little River Airport to update a miscellaneous study.

"The 434 AIP grants will fund critical airport infrastructure projects around the country," said FAA Administrator Stephen M. Dickson.

Since January 2017, the Trump Administration delivered $13.5 billion to America's airports to improve infrastructure and safety.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.