Tacoma Narrows Airport to Get $230,000 in Grants

ARLINGTON– Twenty-six Washington airports, including , will receive a share of nearly $12 million in federal, state and local funds to maintain airport pavements, improve safety and enhance security.

Of that amount the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) contributed $1.1 million through its Airport Aid Grant Program and used $433,290 in state funds to leverage more than $9 million in federal grants. 

The Tacoma Narrows Airport, which is owned and operated by Pierce County, will receive $5,906 and $224,413 in state and federal funding, respectively. According to the WSDOT website, the money will be used for design engineering for the runway.

About two-thirds of the funding for the 32 airport improvement projects are focused on airport pavements. WSDOT places a funding priority on maintaining strong airport pavements to preserve facilities and improve safety.

This is the first round of Airport Aid grants awarded during the 2011-2013 biennium. WSDOT anticipates awarding the next round of grants in spring 2012.

Each year, WSDOT’s airport grant program provides crucial funding to many of the state’s 138 public airports, and leverages millions of dollars in federal grants by using a relatively minimal amount of state and local match contributions. These grants are vital to the airport system in Washington that supports more than 171,000 jobs and generates $4.1 billion in wages annually. WSDOT’s airport grant program is funded by an 11-cent fee on aviation fuel and a portion of the state aircraft registration fees.

The project at Tacoma Narrows Airport is expected to be completed by February 2012, according to WSDOT.

For the complete airport project list, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/Grants/GrantRecipients.htm

For more information on WSDOT’s Airport Aid Grant Program, visit  www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/Grants/default.htm