The U.S. Department of Transportation has unveiled a $1.1 billion airport infrastructure package covering upgrades at airports across 46 states and three territories, with funding for safety, runway and terminal projects. The Federal Aviation Administration will distribute 280 Airport Improvement Program grants, including support to equip about 3,000 runway vehicles at 61 airports with vehicle movement area transmitters, or VMATs, to improve surface visibility for air traffic controllers.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford framed the package as part of a wider effort to strengthen the National Airspace System and improve runway safety. The grants can fund runways, taxiways, signage, lighting and markings, as well as other airport safety infrastructure and terminal enhancements.
The VMAT programme is a central operational element of the package because it extends controller awareness of vehicle movement on the airfield, reducing the risk of runway incursions and other surface hazards. The FAA also received $16.5 million to equip all of its airport vehicles with VMATs, while the broader grant round covers capital work that airports can use to improve both operational resilience and passenger facilities.