Hobby airport gets $20 million grant

William P. Hobby Airport received a $20,540,181 grant from U.S. Department of Transportation.

The funds will have multiple applications, including acquisition of new land for approaches, funding for safety measures and equipment, the reconstruction of a deteriorated runway, reimbursement costs for taxiway lighting, and conducting an environmental study to address capacity issues at the airport.

"Aviation and transportation are incredibly important to southeast Texas, and with our population in the Greater Houston area growing by leaps and bounds every year, we must focus on transportation infrastructure to accommodate our increasing numbers," said U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Texas.

Mayor Bill White said the grant, secured with Lampson's help, "will maintain Hobby's competitive advantages and allow some of the infrastructure improvements necessary for its future modernization and expansion."