Aviation

2023

• Washington's public-use airports leveraged $1.5 million to secure $30.1 million in federal funding for airport investments in FY2024
• Airport Master Record Reviews at 41 airports in 2023 showed 87% of runway pavement in excellent or good condition
• Community Aviation Revitalization Board loan program awarded $12.5 million for 21 projects since 2019

2022

• Washington's public-use airports leveraged $1.3 million to secure $53.6 million in funding for airport investments in FY2023
• Community Aviation Revitalization Board loan program awarded $9.2 million for 17 projects at airports since 2019
• WSDOT published its 2022 Electric Airport Feasibility Study
• Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission continues work of expanding airport capacity

2021

• Federal relief provided $591.8 million for use at NPIAS airports
• Washington state leveraged $100,000 to secure $27 million in funding for airport investments in FY2022
• Community Aviation Revitalization Board loan program awarded $4.7 million for 11 projects at 10 airports in 2019-2021 biennium

Influx of federal funds facilitates increases state funding to non-NPIAS airports

An influx of federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act, and American Rescue Plan Act combined to provide $591.8 million to National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems airports in 2020 and 2021. The financial support was provided as economic relief to airports affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and fully funded the federal share of Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grants, which did not require WSDOT to contribute its local match (typically half of the 10%) to FAA grants.

2020

• Federal relief helped WSDOT maintain continuity of operations at airports eligible for federal funds
• Washington state leveraged $52,000 to secure $3.1 million in funding for airport investments in FY2021
• Community Aviation Revitalization Board loan program awarded $4.7 million for 11 projects at 10 airports in 2019-2021 biennium

Federal relief helps fund operations and projects at eligible Washington state airports

The reduction in travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in reduced gas tax revenue, causing substantial impacts to WSDOT's budget. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act—signed into law in March 2020—helped reduce the impact of WSDOT's funding shortfall for operations and maintenance at eligible airports. Washington airports included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) received approximately $310 million in CARES Act grants for airport operations and maintenance, helping offset decreased revenue due to COVID-19. Additionally, approximately $5 million in CARES Act funding is covering the 10% local match required for over $47 million of Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grants awarded during federal fiscal year 2020, providing 100% funding for projects at NPIAS airports.

2019

• Public-use airports leveraged less than $900,000 to secure $46.5 million in federal funding for airport investments in FY2020
• WSDOT completed 20-year projections of airport pavement needs

State leverages less than $900,000 to secure $46.5 million in federal funds for airport aid

WSDOT awarded $1.4 million through its Airport Aid Grant Program to be invested in airports during fiscal year 2020 (July 2019 through June 2020). Public-use airports in the state leveraged $871,967 of these funds to secure $46.5 million in federal grant funding. These federal grants will benefit 21 projects at 21 airports in FY2020. The leveraged WSDOT dollars make up 60.6% of the $1.4 million in total state funds for the Airport Aid Grant Program. The remaining $567,572 (39.4%) will assist airports not eligible for federal funding.

A total of $53.0 million in local, state and federal funding will be available for airport investment projects during FY2020. The majority of these funds ($46.8 million or 88.3%) are slated for pavement projects, including $500,000 to the Town of Twisp for taxiway realignment and reconstruction at the Twisp Municipal Airport. Projects that improve safety at airports account for 8.7% of the total dollars ($4.6 million), with the remaining 3.2% ($1.7 million) allocated for planning and environmental projects. For more information about WSDOT's Airport Aid Grant Program, visit: https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/aviation/aviation-grants.