The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $318.1 million in airport infrastructure grants to 78 airports in 34 states — and three Southern California airports are among the grant recipients.

The grants are part of the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) which funds various types of airport infrastructure projects, including runways, taxiways, and airport signage, lighting, and markings — all of which help to create thousands of jobs.

“The Airport Improvement Program helps to maintain our aviation infrastructure and supports safety, capacity, security and environmental improvements,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. “This is an important investment in these airports and the economic vitality of their respective communities.”

To date this year, the U.S. DOT has announced nearly 1,580 new grants to nearly 1,294 airports for a total of $2.8 billion. These grants will provide funds for 646 runway projects and 557 taxiway projects that are important to the safety and efficiency of the nation’s system of airports.

Airports are entitled to a certain amount of AIP funding each year, based on passenger volume. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, then the FAA can supplement their entitlements with discretionary funding.

Those airports receiving discretionary grants in California are:

  • Los Angeles International Airport — $6.5 million for noise mitigation measures for an estimated 440 homes and approximately 1,840 residents who live near the airport.
  • San Diego International Airport — $8.0 million to mitigate noise for an estimated 715 residents who live near the airport.
  • San Diego’s Brown Field Municipal Airport in San Diego — $5.7 million for runway repairs.
  • Fresno Yosemite International Airport — for $13.3 million for taxiway repairs.
  • Palo Alto Airport — $8.5 million to repair the airport apron.
  • San Jose International Airport — $1.6 million to purchase four zero-emission shuttles buses for the airport to reduce the use of conventional fuels and improve local air quality.

Source: FAA Press Release