On Tuesday of this week, the United States Depart of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $518 million to improve critical airport infrastructure.
FAA Increases grant funding
The additional $518 million in grants from the FAA are part of the 2022 Airport Improvement Program. The FAA created the Airport Improvement Program to fund airport infrastructure projects such as airport signing, airport lighting, airport markings, runways, and taxiways. The grants are meant to strengthen aviation infrastructure throughout the nation.
416 grants are a part of the second round of the 2022 Airport Improvement program. United States Transportation Secretary Pete Buttgieg said,
"In communities of all sizes, airports are vital to local economies, sustaining jobs and getting people and goods where they need to go. We're pleased to announce this important funding to help improve airports around the country and better serve all Americans."
FAA Associate Administrator for Airports, Shannetta, Griffin, P.E., added,
"We're investing $518 million in airports across America so communities big and small can continue to safely and efficiently connect with the rest of the world."
Ontario International Airport to receive almost $11 million for improvements
Southern California's Ontario International Airport will receive an additional $10.77 million from the FAA to make infrastructure improvements. The airport in Ontario has recently grown significantly as a gateway for those in Southern California.
Of the $518 million that the FAA announced it would be awarding, the $10.77 million is the highest amount within California. Ontario will use the money to improve taxiways and to expand the lighting vault that serves the runways.