WACO, TX — The U.S. Transportation Secretary announced that the department will award $157 million in airport infrastructure to 34 airports in 19 states.
The grants to airports in Texas include the following awards:
- $11.12 million to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for runway rehabilitation.
- $2.33 million to San Antonio International Airport for a Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) program.
- $990,000 to Waco Regional Airport to acquire land for flight approaches.
The selected airports include runway reconstruction and rehabilitation, construction to firefighting facilities, noise mitigation, emissions reduction and the maintenance of taxiways, aprons and terminals.
This is the sixth allotment of the total $3.18 billion in Federal Aviation Administration funding for airports across the U.S.
Aviation Director Joel Martinez said this grant for Waco is allowing them to check things off their master plan list to protect the airport.
"Two years a ago, the City had a master plan developed, and in that development plan they identified several parcels of land that were important to protect the encroachment of the airport," said Martinez.
He said the City plans to purchase the parcels of land as they come up for sale.
"What we are trying to do is promote public safety, and so we are purchasing that as safety measure to protect the existing runway length," said Martinez.
The City is matching the FAA grant with $110,000, making the entire amount they have to work with $1,100,000. Martinez said they are currently working on purchasing a 6.7 acre lot at 9301 China Spring Road near the north end of its longest runway with this new grant.
"As we use those plans, we will continue to check our list and move on forward," explained Martinez.
Last year the City purchased two parcels, totaling 40 acres, and said they still have about a handful more to buy.
