WA Airports Get $66.7M For Safety & Capacity Upgrades From Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding

Cantwell announces $45.4M for Sea-Tac Airport, $7.3M for Tri-Cities Airport, $6.5M for Spokane Airport, nearly $4M for San Juan County airports; Other airports receive funding in Bellingham, Deer Park, Auburn, Richland, Anacortes, Odessa, & Bremerton

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, announced that 12 airports across the State of Washington received a total of $66,758,406 in Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG).

Enacted by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program provides $14.5 billion nationwide in funding over five years. Sen. Cantwell was instrumental in securing funding for the AIG program and Airport Terminal Program (ATP) in the 2021 BIL.

AIG funding announced today includes:

• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport:  $45,400,000
• Tri-Cities Airport:  $7,366,530
• Spokane International Airport: $6,537,017
• Orcas Island Airport: $3,153,888
• Bellingham International Airport: $2,000,000
• Friday Harbor Airport: $834,000
• Deer Park Airport: $585,000
• Auburn Municipal Airport: $395,125
• Richland Airport: $180,500
• Anacortes Airport: $137,000
• Odessa Municipal Airport: $110,000
• Bremerton National Airport: $59,346

Sea-Tac Award: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will receive $45,400,000 for the Concourse S reconstruction project. This grant funds structural, seismic, and building system upgrades that have reached the end of their useful lives. This grant funds phase 2, which consists of design and pre-construction.

“Sea-Tac is a vital hub for our region’s economy, and this investment will help ensure it remains safe, modern, and resilient,” said Senator Cantwell. “These upgrades to the S Concourse, the international doorway for travelers in the Pacific Northwest, will support the airport’s continued growth while creating good-paying jobs.”

Tri-Cities Award: Tri-Cities Airport will receive $7,366,530 for its terminal expansion project. This grant funds an additional baggage make-up area to accommodate more passengers. This grant funds phase 1, which consists of design and construction. Last October, Sen. Cantwell visited the airport to tour the project.

“Tri-Cities Airport is in the midst of a decade-long terminal redevelopment plan, and this funding adds to previous federal investments to speed up expansion of its outdated terminal and baggage handling infrastructure,” said Sen. Cantwell. “As passenger traffic continues to break records, this investment ensures the airport can meet future demand while supporting local jobs and economic development that benefit the region.”

Spokane Award: Spokane International Airport will receive $6,537,017 for its TREX terminal expansion project. This grant funds construction of three gates and related areas, loading dock access road, fencing, and gates.

“This funding is another win for Spokane International Airport’s terminal expansion project,” said Sen. Cantwell. ”The Inland Northwest’s main air travel hub continues to break records, serving more than 4.2 million passengers in 2024, the most ever. Expanding Concourse C by over 70,000 square feet and adding new gates will significantly enhance the airport’s capacity and passenger experience.”

San Juan County Awards:

Orcas Island Airport will receive $3,153,888 to rehabilitate 14,000 square yards of the existing northern and central portions of the Terminal Apron pavement to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.

Friday Harbor Airport will receive a total of $834,000 for two projects. The airport will receive $486,000 to construct a new 10,000-square-foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage. The airport will also receive $348,000 project to expand an existing pump fuel facility.

“This funding is a critical investment in the safety and sustainability of Orcas Island and Friday Harbor Airports, key gateways to the San Juans,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Rehabilitated runways will make flights into Orcas Island safer and smoother. Aircraft owners will be able to lease space at Friday Harbor Airport’s new hangar and buy more fuel at their expanded pump, generating more operating revenue for the airport. These projects will set the airports up to serve San Juan County visitors and residents for decades to come.”

Other Awards:

Bellingham International Airport will receive $2,000,000 for a project to rehabilitate 6,700 feet of existing paved Runway 16/34 to maintain its structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris to extend its useful life. This grant funds phase 1, which consists of design.

Deer Park Airport will receive $585,000 toward construction of a new 347-foot Taxilane AS-1, 475-foot Taxilane AS-2, 369-foot Taxilane AS-3, and 312-foot Taxilane AS-4 to provide airfield access to a non-exclusive hangar development area to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.

Auburn Municipal Airport will receive $395,125 for multiple infrastructure improvements including a new automated weather observing system (AWOS-IIIPT) to provide site-specific weather information and a new electrical generator and replace an existing airport rotating beacon that has reached the end of its useful life. This grant funds a portion of phase 2, which consists of construction.

Richland Airport will receive $180,500 to expand the existing main apron by adding 6,040 square yards to bring the airport into conformity with current standards. This grant funds phase 1, which consists of design.

Anacortes Airport will receive $137,000 for runway safety improvements including a new lighted wind cone navigational aid to provide pilots with critical airfield information, a runway end identifier lights system and precision approach path indicator system, and reconstructing the runway signage that has reached the end of its useful life. This grant funds phase 2, which consists of construction.

Odessa Municipal Airport will receive $110,000 to acquire and install a replacement wind cone navigational aid to provide pilots with critical airfield information. This grant funds phase 2, which consists of construction.

Bremerton National Airport will receive $59,346 to conduct an environmental study required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act for the proposed Eastside Development Area project, which includes taxiway infrastructure, lighting, hangar, and cargo development.

Sen. Cantwell worked hard to secure funding for air travel infrastructure nationwide as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With her support, the infrastructure package provided a total of $25 billion for airport improvements, including $5 billion for the Airport Terminal Program and $15 billion in Airport Infrastructure Grants. In 2023, airports across the state of Washington received nearly $200 million in federal funding through a combination of AIG, ATP, and the Airport Improvement Program, and in 2024, Washington state airports received over $133 million in federal funding.

In addition, Sen. Cantwell also helped to secure over $217 million in Airport Rescue Grants for Washington airports to help them weather the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last May, Sen. Cantwell additionally shepherded the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which reauthorized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for five years. The new law included top Cantwell priorities including enhancing safety oversight, strengthening workforce development, boosting next-generation aviation innovation, and codifying consumer protections.

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