Auburn Municipal Airport, which began in 1969, is one of the busiest of its kind in the state and region. REPORTER FILE PHOTO

Auburn Municipal Airport, which began in 1969, is one of the busiest of its kind in the state and region. REPORTER FILE PHOTO

Sen. Cantwell announces FAA will provide $2.8 million for runway extension at Auburn Municipal Airport

The Auburn Municipal Airport is about to receive $2,858,343 from the Federal Aviation Administration for its long-in-the-planning runway extension project.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, announced the award Thursday.

The total award is composed of a $2.7 million grant from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program for which the city applied Aug. 6, plus $150,000 from AIP’s mandatory funding commitments, which the airport receives every year to apply to whatever projects it has identified.

The project will extend the airport’s total runway length from 3,400 to 3,841 lineal feet to increase capacity, improve safety, and support stormwater management improvements. The grant itself will cover 90 percent of the construction cost.

Work begins next spring.

“The way FAA funding works is we bid the product and then we request grant funds,” Ingrid Gaub, public works director for the city of Auburn, said Thursday. “Our next step is to award the contract in October. The contract is written to begin pavement work next spring so we will not tear up the runway in the wet months and have it closed longer than necessary.”

”The airport will continue to be open during construction, with restricted times of closure for some of the work to be completed, mostly at night. We are anticipating that the project would be completed in the fall of 2020,” Gaub said.

The Washington State Department of Transportation last year declined the city’s application for a grant award that would have covered 5 percent of the total project cost, but it invited the city to reapply in the next funding cycle. If the city is again unsuccessful in its application to WSDOT, Gaub said, its own airport fund will kick in 5 percent.

Cantwell secured full funding for the AIP in last year’s landmark, five-year reauthorization of the FAA. From 2013-2018, Washington state airports received more than $478 million in grants from the program.




Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Business

t
Kent-based Blue Origin successfully completes 29th New Shepard flight

Unmanned mission launched Feb. 4 from West Texas

Ezee Fiber, based in Houston, Texas, features orange vehicles with white lettering, and will be offering service in Kent in 2025. COURTESY PHOTO, Ezee Fiber
Texas-based Ezee Fiber to offer internet service in Kent

Company announces $400 million expansion to Washington state; regional headquarters in Kent

t
Kent-based Blue Origin reschedules New Glenn rocket launch | Update

Company plans unmanned first flight for Thursday, Jan. 16 in Cape Canaveral, Florida

t
Kent-based Blue Origin successfully completes vehicle hotfire test | Update

Moves closer to first flight of New Glenn rocket which could come Jan. 10

t
Southern cooking restaurant to open at Highline College

Jumpin’ Jumbalaya offers Cajun-Creole fushion

t
Sure Lock Escapes opens 2 escape rooms in downtown Kent

Owners opened first location in 2022 in Renton

Nana’s Southern Kitchen in Kent will give away more than 1,000 meals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Christmas Day. COURTESY PHOTO, Nana’s Southern Kitchen
Nana’s Southern Kitchen in Kent to give away 1,000 meals Christmas Day

Fifth year of event to give back to community and provide meals to those in need

Kent School of Rock’s new owners Phil Gustavson, Joshila Wilson and Chris Wilson. COURTESY PHOTO, School of Rock
School of Rock Kent new owners plan relaunch party Dec. 14

Group looks to bring ‘fresh perspective and energy to iconic music education brand’

t
California-based El Pollo Loco picks Kent for first Washington location

L.A.-Mex chain restaurant known for its fire-grilled chicken

t
Dough Zone restaurant now open at Kent Station shopping center

Features Chinese comfort food, including soup dumplings, pan-fried buns, noodles and potstickers

The crew that completed Kent-based Blue Origin’s ninth human flight into space on Friday, Nov. 22. COURTESY PHOTO, Blue Origin
Kent-based Blue Origin completes ninth human spaceflight

Six-member crew soars into space from West Texas for 10-minute flight

Advance Auto Parts plans to close its locations in Kent, Federal Way and Auburn. COURTESY PHOTO, Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts to close stores in Kent, Federal Way and Auburn

Part of nine closures in state and more than 500 across the nation