(The Center Square) – Seventy-five million dollars in federal funding is headed toward airports in Arizona.
The money stems from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Airport Improvement Program, and the funds are specifically going toward the Tucson International Airport, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and the Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport.
“As hubs for tourism and commerce, Arizona’s airports play a central role in growing our economy,” Sen. Mark Kelly stated. “These investments will increase passenger safety, ensure our airports can continue to operate at full capacity, and create good paying jobs for Arizonans in the process.”
The Tucson airport is getting $55 million, Phoenix-Mesa airport is getting roughly $18 million, and the Laughlin/Bullhead airport is getting roughly $3 million. While the Tucson and Phoenix-Mesa airports provide regular commercial flights, the airport in Bullhead City, Arizona, only has chartered commercial flights right now. However, Havasu News reported in August that a separate grant for the airport could pave the way for more commercial travel to the airport.
“I’m proud to deliver over $75 million to strengthen airport operations, safety, and efficiency at Tucson International, Mesa Gateway, and Laughlin/Bullhead International. Thanks to our bipartisan infrastructure law, Arizonans can continue traveling with peace of mind,” Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema said in a statement.
The Airport Improvement Program, which is through the Federal Aviation Administration doled out over $1.9 million in grants as of September.
The law’s hefty price tag has earned praise for the unique investments to public entities across the board, whereas critics have attributed the spending to the uptick in inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic.