The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Aviation announces that $5.7 million in state, federal and local match funds will be used for 23 different airport improvement projects in the state. A total of 20 public use airports in Washington State will benefit from this round of grants, including the Tacoma Narrows airport, which will receive $26,445 for its Safety Improvements Project. Through its Local Airport Aid Grant Program, WSDOT awarded approximately $1.2 million in state grants to fund these airport projects.

Of that amount WSDOT used $88,493 to leverage over $3.4 million in federal funds.

“It makes a huge difference that we are able to leverage millions of federal dollars by using a relatively small amount of state funds,” said Stan Allison, WSDOT Manager of Aviation Operations. “It enables crucial projects at smaller airports and helps us to maintain a safe and efficient state aviation system.”

Airport improvement projects slated for the 2005-2007 biennium are in the areas of pavement, safety, planning, maintenance, security and runway safety. Forty-five percent of the projects are focused on airport pavement maintenance. Eighty-six percent of those paving projects will go to smaller airports that are not eligible for federal funding. The specific project breakdown is as follows:

— 7 Pavement

— 3 Maintenance

— 2 Planning

— 7 Safety

— 1 Security

— 3 Runway Safety

This is the first of two rounds of Local Airport Aid grant awards expected during the 2005-2007 biennium. WSDOT anticipates announcing its second round of grant awards in April 2006. Detailed information on grant recipients and project types is available at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/news/2005/AirptAidGrants05-07.htm.