Rochester International Airport (RST) has announced it will receive $9.2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants. The grant will be primarily used to initiate Phase 1 of construction on RST’s runway safety improvements.
“We are extremely grateful for this federal grant to support critical airport infrastructure projects,” said John Reed, RST’s executive director. “Reconstruction of Runway 2/20 will commence in spring 2021 resulting in new jobs in our community.”
RST’s runway safety improvements project is a multi-year, multi-phase project to replace Runway 2/20, which has reached the end of its useful life, and to improve associated airfield pavement and equipment. The total cost of the runway safety improvements is $79.2 million. Due to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, 2020 grants are being awarded at a 100 percent federal share. Future phases of the runway safety improvements project will require local and state funding matches.
“RST provides critical access to and from Rochester for patients, visitors and residents, and it facilitates the daily transport of lifesaving medical supplies,” said Lisa Clarke, Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency executive director. “The runway improvement project will support the local economy and will allow RST to continue to provide these essential services for Rochester and the region for years to come.”
While the federal grant will help fund the initial phase of the runway improvements, the City of Rochester’s state bonding request of $11.4 million is still necessary to complete the project. Learn more about the runway improvement project and the state bonding request here.