FAA Grant Helps John Wayne Airport Go Green With Shuttle Busses

SANTA ANA, CA — A $2.1 million grant was awarded to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Monday, thanks to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration.

A JWA spokesperson said the money would be used to acquire zero-emission shuttle buses and charging equipment and to make infrastructure modifications to handle the vehicles.

Despite the information provided by the federal government, there won't be any changes to terminals, airport officials say.

Millions of dollars in grants were awarded across the Southland, including more than $40 million for Los Angeles International Airport.

LAX received a pair of grants -- more than $35.6 million for taxiway construction and more than $4.4 million for sound insulation projects in surrounding neighborhoods.

Van Nuys Airport received nearly $10 million and Long Beach Airport received more than $8.5 million, both for taxiway reconstruction projects. John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana was awarded more than $2.1 million for terminal- building modifications.

The grants are part of the fifth dispersal in fiscal year 2019 of the $3.18 billion Airport Improvement Program, which funds infrastructure projects around the country. The DOT and FAA awarded $986 million in grants to more than 350 airports in 44 states and Micronesia and Puerto Rico, including $126 million to 26 airports in California alone.

"This significant investment in airport improvements in California will fund construction and rehabilitation projects that will help maintain high levels of safety in U.S. aviation," said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.