Worcester Regional Airport is receiving a $5 million grant to rehabilitate a runway, part of $273 million in grants issued to 184 airports across the country on Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The administration of President Donald Trump is awarding the $273 million in airport safety and infrastructure grants through the FAA. Airports in 41 states and the District of Columbia, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau, and Puerto Rico are receiving funding, the FAA said.
“This $273 million federal investment in our nation’s airports will strengthen safety, improve travel, generate jobs, and benefit local communities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The grants will be used for projects including purchasing aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment, constructing runways and taxiways, repairing runways and taxiways, installing aircraft lighting and signage, conducting airport master plan studies and installing airport perimeter fencing, according to the FAA.
Of the $273 million, $242 million is from the Airport Improvement Program and $31 million is from Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants. The Airport Improvement Program grants are in addition to the $10 billion in grants the department awarded to airports to help during the coronavirus pandemic, the FAA said.
“The safety of our nation’s airports is of paramount importance to the FAA,” said FAA Administrator Stephen M. Dickson. “These grants will allow these necessary projects to continue.”
Worcester Regional Airport was once empty and eyed for closure. Massport acquired the airport in 2010. Since 2013, the airport has added daily JetBlue flights to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and New York; American Airlines flights to Philadelphia; and Delta flights to Detroit.
Earlier in the pandemic, the Department of Transportation denied a request from JetBlue to suspend all service from Worcester Regional Airport into June. In denying the request, the department cited relief awarded through the CARES Act.
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