Humboldt County Airport Awarded $12.8 Million for Taxiway Safety Upgrade
The Humboldt County airport in McKinleyville will receive nearly $12.8 million in federal funding to complete the second phase of a major taxiway realignment project, part of a statewide package announced earlier this month by U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.
The grant comes through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program and is one of the largest awards in California this cycle. In total, 51 airports will receive nearly $109 million for runway rehabilitation, noise mitigation, terminal upgrades and other safety projects.
For the Humboldt County airport, the funding will allow the airport to shift Taxiway A by 150 feet, bringing the airfield into compliance with current FAA design standards. The project is intended to improve separation between aircraft movements, reduce the risk of runway incursions, and modernize infrastructure originally built decades ago.
Humboldt County’s interim Aviation Director Justin Hopman said funds from the FAA grant will cover most of the project costs.
“The Department of Aviation was thrilled to learn the California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport received a Federal Aviation Administration grant award of over $12.8 million to relocate the airport’s taxiway,” Hopman said. “These funds will cover around 95% of the project costs for the construction to shift the airport’s taxiway by 150 feet, bringing the airport into conformity with current design standards. When complete, the project will provide an additional safety buffer for everyone traveling through the airport. The county would like to thank Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff for their work to secure this funding for these much-needed airport improvements.”
Local airport officials have said the taxiway shift is a multi‑year effort, with phase one already underway. The new funding covers the second construction phase, which includes earthwork, grading and pavement installation. Additional work will follow as the airport completes the full realignment.
In a statement, Padilla said investments in rural airports are essential to California’s transportation network.
“California’s airports are critical to the millions of travelers, workers, and goods that keep our economy moving,” said Padilla. “When we modernize our airports, we’re investing directly in jobs, in tourism, and in California’s competitiveness for decades to come.”
Schiff said the grants will make airports “safer and more reliable,” noting that improvements to runways and taxiways reduce delays and strengthen statewide aviation infrastructure.
“From upgrading runways and taxiways to reducing airport noise and improving passenger facilities, these investments will make airports across California safer and more reliable,” said Schiff. “I’m proud to help deliver federal funding that will strengthen our transportation infrastructure, create economic opportunities and better serve communities across the Golden State.”
Humboldt County’s airport system, which includes ACV, Rohnerville Airport and Murray Field, has received multiple federal grants in recent years for runway rehabilitation, lighting upgrades and safety equipment. The FAA award also includes $3,694,895 for Rohnerville Airport to support the final construction phase to rehabilitate 4,005 feet of Runway 11/29 and $586,132 for Murray Field to install a precision approach path indicator system for Runway 12.
County aviation officials are expected to outline the construction timeline once contracts are finalized. The project will likely involve intermittent closures of portions of the airfield, though commercial service is expected to continue during most phases.
The FAA’s Airport Improvement Program is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and federal aviation revenue. Padilla and Schiff have announced more than $300 million in airport modernization grants over the past year.
Maranda Vargas can be reached at (707) 441-0504
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