DALLAS — Big changes are coming to many Texas airports.
And travelers will notice them.
The Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, awarded nearly 1 billion dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to 125 U.S. airports across 46 states.
Here in Texas, that includes Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Edinburg, Harlingen, and Midland.
“This is the first time we have had dollars to invest in exactly, as you say, those terminal, front of house improvements that will do so much to improve the passenger experience,” U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg told us on Inside Texas Politics. “But also, particularly, I’ll emphasize for DFW and Austin, adding those new gates will also mean potentially bringing in new competition, lowering airline prices and really enhancing the travel experience in two cities where we know you’ve kind of outgrown your airports.”
The $13 million awarded to Dallas Love Field will fund improvements to the Main Terminal to improve the movement of passengers and baggage, as well as enhance ADA accessibility.
DFW International Airport received $15 million and will use it to help build a new Terminal F, adding up to 22 new gates.
The George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston will get $9.6 million to reconstruct its Skyway people mover system.
The $33 million awarded to Austin will be used, in part, to add at least 20 new gates.
And in San Antonio, the Kelly Field Airport at Port San Antonio is looking at $2.8 million to help build a terminal access road and water utility lines for a new 39,770 square-foot consolidated facilities terminal.
Trottenberg says these are just some of the many examples of how the Infrastructure Law is investing in states and communities all across the country.
“In Texas, we’ve invested over a billion dollars in the airports. And over $21 billion in roads, bridges, transit, ports, airports, you name it. So, big investments in Texas. And big investments all over the country,” she said.