FAA awards $18 million to 24 Nebraska airports to enhance safety and infrastructure

Airplane taking off at sunrise. (Getty Images)

LINCOLN — The Federal Aviation Administration awarded $18 million to 24 Nebraska airports this summer as part of a nationwide effort to enhance airfield safety and infrastructure.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s FAA awarded the Airport Improvement Program grants on June 28 and July 26 to Nebraska. Across four rounds of grants so far this fiscal year, the FAA has distributed more than $1.13 billion to 235 airports across 35 states and Washington, D.C., to improve runways, airfields, airport facilities, signage, lighting and markings.

The federal grant program includes approximately $3.3 billion in annual funding.

“These grants underline a national commitment to promoting safety, efficiency, environmental stewardship, infrastructure and security across America’s airports,” the Nebraska Department of Transportation said in a Monday news release.

Among Nebraska’s largest recipients were:

• Beatrice Municipal ($4.81 million), to reconstruct an apron and taxiway.
• Omaha’s Eppley Airfield ($3.47 million), to reconstruct a terminal.
• North Platte Regional/Lee Bird Field ($3.4 million), to construct a terminal building.
• Alliance Municipal ($985,000), to reseal runway pavement.

Airports in the following Nebraska cities also received grants: Atkinson, Auburn, Bassett, Blair, Cambridge, Central City, Columbus, Cozad, Fairbury, Falls City, Gordon, Grant, Hebron, Imperial, Lexington, Lincoln, Nebraska City, Plattsmouth, Rushville and Seward.

The FAA states that airports are entitled to a certain amount of grant funding each year, based on passenger volume. If a capital project exceeds available entitlement funds, the FAA can supplement with additional, discretionary spending.

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