U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $840 million in Airport Improvement Program 432 grants to 381 airports in 47 states, of which $9.5 million will be awarded to 10 airports in Wyoming. The grant funding will be administered by the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Division.
The U.S. transportation infrastructure, with its 3,332 airports and 5,000 paved runways as an essential component, increases the country’s competitiveness and improves the traveling public’s quality of life.
In addition to administering the funding, WYDOT’s Aeronautics Division represents and advocates for projects for local governments. The Aeronautics Division is also involved with the planning and engineering of these projects.
All of the projects put forward in the planning phase are approved by the Wyoming Aeronautics Commission through the Aeronautics Division’s Wyoming Aviation Capital Improvement Program. Projects are thoroughly vetted and all necessary information has been coordinated before grant applications are made.
The FAA typically awards between $30-35 million to Wyoming airports each year. The state gives an average of $8.5 million yearly to match federal and/or local funds for airport development.
Among the grant awards announced are the following projects at Wyoming airports:
Afton Municipal Airport – $90,000 to reconstruct taxiway;
Dixon Airport in Carbon County – $300,000 to update the airport’s master plan study;
Gillette/Campbell County Airport – $4.6 million to reconstruct taxiway and taxiway lighting;
Kemmerer Municipal Airport – $150,000 to construct a fuel farm;
Mondell Field (Newcastle) – $509,999 to construct taxiway and install perimeter fencing;
Ralph Wenz Field (Pinedale) – $1.9 million to reconstruct apron and taxiway;
Shivley Field (Saratoga) – $303,426 to purchase snow-removal equipment;
Sheridan County Airport – $1.3 million to expand the commercial terminal and install apron flood lighting;
Hot Springs County (Thermopolis) – $206,386 to seal coat and mark apron, runway and taxiway; and
Worland Municipal Airport – $225,052 to widen taxiway.