04.09.22

$16.8 Million Announced For Key Infrastructure Improvements at Sea-Tac Airport

Senator Cantwell helped secure full federal funding for necessary tarmac infrastructure improvements

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced today that a $16.8 million grant from the Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been awarded to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). These grants are funded in part by $100 million that Cantwell helped secure in the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. Thanks to this grant provision, the projects will not have to pay the usual local match. 

“As one of the fastest growing airports in the country, federal infrastructure dollars are crucial for Sea-Tac to meet future demand,” said Cantwell. “This $16.7 million grant will allow Sea-Tac Airport to perform upgrades to its tarmac by reconstructing existing taxilanes, helping improve the efficiency of aircraft operations as the demand for air travel continues to grow.”

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will receive $16,773,933 to reconstruct taxilane pavement in the south satellite, north satellite, and Cargo 2 areas. The pavement has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced. The taxilane is the portion of the aircraft parking area used for access between taxiways and aircraft parking positions.

Senator Cantwell has long supported airports throughout the State of Washington. Through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), Senator Cantwell has helped airports throughout Washington state get funding. In June, Cantwell announced over $217 million in grants from the Airport Rescue Grants program awarded to Washington airports to help keep people safe and employed by reimbursing operational expenses, debt service payments, and costs related to combating the spread of pathogens at the airport.

In August of 2021, Cantwell announced $22 million in AIP funding going to airports in Wenatchee, Bremerton, Richland, Snohomish, and Yakima. In May 2021, Cantwell announced $23 million in AIP funding going to Sea-Tac, Bellingham, Walla Walla, and Pullman-Moscow airports. In February 2020, she helped secure funding for Pullman to start a new nonstop route to Denver. In just the last couple of years, she has successfully secured $23 million in federal funding to support airport upgrades and the construction of a new runway at Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport. In 2017, she secured $5.2 million to make other critical improvements at the airport. Cantwell also recently helped secure funding to help establish nonstop air service between San Francisco and Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee.

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