San Diego Airport Getting $24M From FAA For Improvements

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego International Airport will receive $24,160,074 from the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden signed into law last month, it was announced Thursday.

It's the third-most of the 167 airports in California receiving DOT funding, behind Los Angeles and San Francisco international airports with nearly $80 million and more than $49 million, respectively.

"We are already seeing the benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including in these investments in California's airports," said Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California. "Upgrading terminals, runway renovations, and other improvements at California airports will create good-paying construction jobs and help our tourism industry rebound as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic."

The funding, totaling more than $294 overall, is intended to help California's airports build resilient infrastructure.

"California's economy is the fifth largest in the world, but our infrastructure -- including our airports -- lags behind," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California. "The infrastructure bill that the Senate passed in August and President Biden signed last month included $300 million to help modernize California airports throughout the state.

"This funding will improve facilities, update technology and make flying more efficient, safer and comfortable for Californians," she said. "We must continue these types of critical investments in our infrastructure if we're to remain competitive and continue to create jobs and economic opportunities."

As the tourism industry attempts to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, California airports have been seeing an increase in air travel. In September, more than 12.5 million people traveled through California's airports.

However, what the more than $24 million for San Diego International will specifically go toward is unclear.

"We thank the Federal Aviation Administration for the $24 million in funds that were made available as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law," said Sabrina LoPiccolo, airport spokeswoman. "The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is waiting on further guidance from the FAA to determine exactly how the airport authority will use the funds."

The FAA announced it will allocate an additional $12 billion nationwide in airport infrastructure improvements provided by the infrastructure bill over the next several years. Funding is intended to help airports make upgrades like runway and taxiway renovations, increase cargo capacity, upgrade terminal facilities and safety enhancements.

The bill also has provisions for $5 billion in additional grant funding for terminal development projects and $5 billion to improve air traffic control infrastructure.

— City News Service