La Verne Airport Receives FAA Airport Infrastructure Grants

LA VERNE, CA — The Federal Aviation Administration Monday awarded $495 million in airport infrastructure grants nationwide, including a $11.7 million to LaVerne's Brackett Field for reconstruction of its north and south aprons.

Other Southland airports receiving funding included:

• $886,490 to update John Wayne Airport's Master Plan Study.
• $15.5 million to Long Beach Airport for taxiway reconstruction.
• $2.4 million to Hollywood Burbank Airport for runway improvements;
• $600,000 to Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport for runway improvements.

Two other Southern California airports were also recipients of sizable grants.

San Diego International Airport was awarded nearly $13 million for taxiway improvements, and Ontario International Airport was allocated $6.1 million for taxiway improvements, runway lighting installation and updating the Airport Master Plan Study.

The 358 grants earmarked for more than 300 airports in 46 states and the Pacific Islands are part of the second allocation in fiscal year 2019 of the FAA's $3.18 billion Airport Improvement Program, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Selected projects include runway reconstruction and rehabilitation, construction of firefighting facilities, and the maintenance of taxiways, aprons and terminals.

"This significant investment in airport improvements will fund construction and rehabilitation projects that will help maintain high levels of safety in U.S. aviation," U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said.

City News Service, Ashley Ludwig, Patch Editor, contributed to this report.