The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, officially known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, allocates significant funding to modernize and improve U.S. airports. The bill provides $25 billion for airport infrastructure, aiming to upgrade outdated facilities, enhance safety measures, and increase capacity to accommodate growing air traffic. This funding includes $15 billion for airport improvement projects, such as runway repairs and terminal upgrades, and $5 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration to update air traffic control systems. The investment is expected to reduce delays, improve energy efficiency, and boost the overall passenger experience, while also creating jobs and supporting economic growth in the aviation sector.
According to faa.gov, San Martin could have received $159,000 in 2022, $145,000 in 2023, and $144,000 in 2024 for a total of $448,000 over three years. Reid-Hillview could have received even more, almost 3/4 of a million dollars. That would have gone a long way in their 5M project to update taxiways, signs and lighting.
How much of this obligation-free money did Santa Clara County access? $0.
These funds are separate from the AIP (Airport Improvement Program) grants from the FAA. The funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill comes with no grant assurances.
It simply boggles the mind. At this point, I can’t tell if it’s laziness, ineptness or malice, but the one thing I can tell you is that it is pathetic. Below is how other public-use airports in California benefited.
2024
BFL, Extend/Expand Taxiway, $4,175,195
BUR, Construct Terminal, $8,167,605
L45, Install Runway Visual Guidance System, $175,487
L45, Install Weather Reporting Equipment, $122,027
MHR, Improve Federal Contract Tower, $840,600
MMH, Reconstruct Parking Lot, $1,762,875
MRY, Construct Terminal, $2,583,765
O60, Install Runway Visual Guidance System, $81,956
RBL, Rehabilitate Apron, $584,000
SBA, Rehabilitate Taxiway, $8,292,117
SFO, Acquire and Install Electrical Emergency Generator, $6,976,120
SFO, Reconstruct Runway Lighting, $6,255,216
SJC, Construct Taxiway, $17,823,809
SJC, Construct Terminal, $330,114
SJC, Prepare Safety Management System Manual and Implementation Plan, $402,950
SMF, Reconstruct Terminal, $18,243,639
SNS, Rehabilitate Taxilane, $880,610
STS, Reconstruct Apron, $2,568,395
SVE, Reconstruct Taxiway, $448,000
TCY, Rehabilitate Parking Lot, Rehabilitate Terminal Access Road, $220,100
TVL, Reseal Taxiway Pavement, $229,435
VIS, Acquire Airfield Equipment, $298,800
WVI, Construct Wash Rack, $405,000
2023
AAT, Conduct or Update Miscellaneous Study, $129,600
ACV, Rehabilitate Runway Lighting, $1,605,929
AUN, Update Airport Master Plan or Study, $545,173
BUR, Construct Terminal Building, $15,890,229
EKA, Install Runway Vertical/Visual Guidance System, $90,000
IZA, Seal Apron Pavement Surface/Pavement Joints, $129,222
LAX, Improve/Modify Access Road, $79,278,162
MMH, Conduct or Update Miscellaneous Study, $117,858
MMH, Reconstruct Parking Lot, $108,701
O69, Reconstruct Taxilane, $110,700
OKB, Conduct or Update Miscellaneous Study, $110,908
PRB, Seal Runway Pavement Surface/Pavement Joints, $261,000
RDD, Reconstruct Access Road, $ 960,756
RNM, Rehabilitate Apron, $2,258,000
SBA, Rehabilitate Taxiway, $306,431
SFO, Improve/Modify/Rehabilitate Terminal Building, $14,250,000
SFO, Reconstruct Runway Lighting, $2,800,939
STS, Construct Sponsor-Owned Tower (BIL), $317,310
STS, Reconstruct Apron, $2,404,296
TRM, Install Runway Vertical/Visual Guidance System, $719,663
VCB, Update Airport Master Plan or Study, $281,822
TVL ,Update Airport Master Plan or Study, $218,565
WVI, Install Perimeter Fencing not Required by 49 CFR 1542, $475,290
2022
ACV, Rehabilitate Runway,Rehabilitate Runway Lighting, $986,490.00
CEC, Install Perimeter Fencing not Required by 49 CFR 1542, $19,236.00
OAK, Rehabilitate Taxiway, $1,275,181.00
SAN, Construct Taxiway, $24,160,074.00
SEE, Expand Service Road, $1,655,480