Thursday, July 14, 2022

Grant to fund $49 million Metro Airport upgrades

Travelers using Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus will soon see major improvements at the facility funded by a $49,600,000 grant from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  The funding includes $28 million to rehabilitate public restrooms to be more accessible for travelers; $17,600,000 to repair baggage claim belts and $4 million $4,000,000 to start a replacement program for the passenger boarding bridges. The new boarding bridges will provide enhanced accessibility and energy efficiency upgrades, airport officials said.

“Having reliable and safe air service is crucial for tourism, commerce and economic development,” said U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who worked to secure the budget item. “This funding is another critical piece of the infrastructure investments coming to our state and will improve customer experiences at our airports.”

Her comments were seconded by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters who also worked to secure the funding for the airport.

“Detroit Metro Airport is a vital economic hub for our state that connects communities and businesses to important destinations and resources across the globe,” said Peters. “I was proud to help secure this federal support through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help Detroit Metro Airport make necessary upgrades to critical infrastructure, ensuring it can continue to welcome and transport travelers safely and efficiently for years to come.”

The Airport Terminal Program is one of three aviation programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law provides $1 billion annually for five years for Airport Terminal improvements.