Senator Collins Announces More Than $11.4 Million for Five Maine Airports

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that five Maine airports received a total of $11,495,847. This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

“Maine’s airports are vital pieces of our state’s infrastructure that play a critical role not only in transportation and job creation, but also to provide medical services for rural communities in emergencies when seconds count,” said Senator Collins, the Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. “This critical investment will allow airports across our state to make much-needed improvements to their infrastructure, enhancing the safety and efficiency of operations and benefitting residents and visitors.”

The funding was allocated as follows:

·         Portland International Jetport received $6,942,191 to realign a section of existing Taxiway A north to eliminate aircraft interference with the Instrument Landing System (ILS) critical area;

·         Augusta State Airport received $2,139,029 to reconstruct a taxiway;

·         Auburn-Lewiston Airport received $1,619,627 to acquire land for approaches, reconstruct a taxilane and, update an existing taxiway;

·         Belfast Municipal Airport received $600,000 to construct a fuel farm to make self-service fuel available for aircraft;

·         Wiscasset Airport received $195,000 to install a runway visual guidance system and obstruction markers.

As the Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins was instrumental in securing $3.75 billion for AIP, including $400 million in supplemental AIP grants, in the Fiscal Year 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill that was signed into law in December.

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