Airports nationwide received more than $76.2 million from U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration to deal with upcoming winter weather.
The money is being used to buy snowplows and de-icing equipment, as well as new or upgraded buildings to store the winter equipment so that 85 airports in 28 states are better prepared to keep operations running safely and smoothly, FAA said in a Nov. 23 news release.
"We can't let winter weather stop aircraft from safely landing and taking off," FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Shannetta Griffin said in the news release. "This funding will help keep airports operating this winter and get passengers and cargo to their work, families and vacations safely."
The money came from FAA's Airport Improvement Program, which pays for projects such as new and improved airport facilities construction, runway and taxiway repairs, airfield lighting or signage maintenance and equipment purchases for airport operate and maintenance, the release reported.
According to the release, about $46.2 million is for snow removal equipment purchases, including more than $3.6 million Rickenbacker International in Columbus, Ohio; more than $3.1 to Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska; more than $2.3 million to Boeing Field/King County International Airport in Seattle; and $607,500 to Ford Airport in Iron Mountain, Mich.
About $13.6 million of the funding pay for de-icing facilities development, including more than $9.7 million to Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., to construct a de-icing containment facility; more than $3.3 million to Great Falls International Airport in Great Falls, Mont., to construct a de-icing pad; and $277,777 to Williston Basin International Airport in Williston, N.D., to construct a de-icing pad, the release reported.
The remaining $16.4 million is being spent to build and renovate buildings to house and maintain snow removal equipment, including more than $4.5 to Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, W.V.; more than $2.6 million to Bellingham International Airport in Bellingham, Wash.; more than $2.1 million to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport in Brainerd, Minn.; and $936,625 to Mammoth Yosemite Airport in Mammoth Lake, Calif., according to the release.
