(This article has been updated to add new information).
Palm Springs International Airport has received a $6 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for terminal improvements, part of about $970 million in funding given to airfields nationwide.
The funding awarded to Palm Springs International was designated for “the demolition of the existing foundation and building envelope and the construction of a new foundation for the expansion of the existing terminal.”
As part of the expansion, the airport plans to upgrade its departure baggage handling system.
Southwest Airlines passengers check in for a flight at Palm Springs International Airport, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020.
The project is separate from the airport’s master plan update, which will see a terminal expansion and construction of car rental facilities to accommodate expected travel growth over the next 20 years. The airport must use the funding awarded this week within the next four years, with construction targeted for 2025.
The Palm Springs City Council must formally accept funding before the airport can begin its expansion plans.
“PSP has seen record passenger numbers for the second year in a row and this funding will help provide a smooth and efficient travel experience for our guests,” Airport Executive Director Harry Barrett said in a statement Friday. It is critical to our mission.” “This grant from the FAA will allow us to expand our outbound baggage area to meet current and future demands, supporting the airport’s growth and community needs.”
A total of 125 airport-related projects were funded across the country.
“Investments in America’s airport infrastructure are about more than just renovating runways and terminals; they are about growing local economies, creating jobs, and ensuring travel is safe and efficient,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. ” he said. “With the grants we are announcing today, totaling nearly $1 billion, we will help modernize 125 airports across the country, making them safer, more accessible, and more convenient for travelers. ”
Several other Southern California airports also received funding. Los Angeles International Airport received $30 million to be used for terminal road projects. The project includes “roads, ramps, bridges, pedestrian bridges, intersection improvements, traffic signals/control equipment, traffic monitoring/management equipment, street lighting, signs, striping, and sidewalks.”
Santa Ana’s John Wayne Airport received $10.6 million to install six replacement escalators that are seismically safe, reliable and “generate up to 20% energy savings,” according to the FAA.
Hollywood Burbank Airport received $9.3 million for “exterior glass, roof, and drywall for a 14-gate replacement passenger terminal.”
San Diego International Airport received nearly $12.1 million to build a new terminal, including “installation of two passenger boarding bridges, pilings, foundation concrete, flooring, roofing, and structural steel.”
“We strive to ensure the safety, comfort and convenience of our passengers throughout their journey at our airports,” FAA Deputy Airport Administrator Shanetta R. Griffin said in a statement. “Today’s investments will build communities by providing good-paying jobs and injecting capital into local economies.”
City News Service contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared in the Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs Airport gets $6 million from federal government for expansion
