Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has hit the federal grant jackpot with a $50 million outlay from Washington as the Biden Administration announced 10 Florida airports will be receiving millions for improvement and expansion projects.
The money headed for Broward County is part of more than $112 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve 10 airports around the state, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which announced the grants late Thursday. The outlays for Florida “are part of nearly $1 billion in grants … for 114 airports across the country, spanning 44 states and three territories,” the agency said in a statement.
“Under this administration, we are doing more to improve the travel experience than ever before, from expanding consumer protections to modernizing the physical infrastructure,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He said the money “will make it easier for passengers to get to and through airports, create jobs, and increase safety for all.”
Connector walkways for an expanding airport
The Fort Lauderdale money “funds a portion of the Terminal Connecter to connect all terminals post-security at the airport,” the FAA said in the statement. “This includes construction of two connector walkways, enhanced security checkpoints, a renovated baggage claim hall and expanded hold room.”
The connector is among a number of projects on the drawing boards for the expansion-minded airport. It has broken ground on a fifth terminal to be built in conjunction with JetBlue Airways. And Mark Gale, chief executive officer/director of aviation for the Broward County Aviation Department, has vowed to “fix the front door” of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International to make it easier for travelers to enter and exit one of the state’s busiest airports.
The airport is a major conduit for tourists flying into South Florida to catch cruise ships at Port Everglades or to spend vacations in the county’s many hotels and along its 24 miles of beaches.
South Florida’s other two international airports did well with the grant distribution.
Miami International Airport is receiving $27 million for two projects: The rehabilitation of its broken Skytrain people mover, which has been out of commission since last September, and a portion of the design phase of a modernization of the airport’s central terminal and Concourses E and F.
Palm Beach International Airport is receiving $7 million to help fund the second phase of the airport’s Concourse B expansion and rehabilitation. “This phase will complete the expansion and modernization of the 13‐gate concourse,” the statement said.
Other state airports receiving grants include:
- Southwest Florida International Airport: $8 million to reconfigure and expand terminal access and curbside roadways for the airport that serves Greater Fort Myers.
- Orlando Sanford Airport: $1 million for a portion of the rehabilitation of its west terminal corridor, “expanding the passenger waiting area and improving ADA accommodations.”
- Punta Gorda Airport: $10 million for a terminal rehabilitation and expansion project. It includes “renovating the security checkpoint and adding public circulation, hold-room, and space for restrooms.”
- St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport: $6 million for a terminal renovation and expansion consisting of “adding two new gates, consolidating TSA checkpoints, expanding passenger hold-rooms, increasing baggage make‐up capacity, and adding escalators and elevators.”
- Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville: $2 million to partially fund the construction of a new control tower.
- Venice Municipal Airport: $950,000 to help fund a new aviation terminal building for the airport, which is on the Gulf Coast south of Sarasota.
- Williston Municipal Airport: $500,000 to help fund a new aviation terminal building for the airport in Levy County, which is southwest of Gainesville
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