Washington Dulles International Airport is set to receive $40 million in federal funding to help construct a new 14-gate, 400,000-square-foot terminal. The new terminal will feature direct connections to the Aerotrain and connections to the Metrorail through other modes.
On October 22, 2024, U.S. Senators from Virginia, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, announced that the state will receive approximately $57 million in federal funding for airport improvements statewide through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“Virginia’s airports help Virginians and visitors get where they need to go and serve as critical economic development hubs,” said Senators Warner and Kaine in a statement. “We’re glad this funding, which was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will make important upgrades to help airports across Virginia operate smoothly. We will keep working to bolster Virginia’s infrastructure and grow our economy.”
Through the latest funding, Norfolk International Airport will receive $14.7 million to realign its exclusive-use access roadway, improving traffic flow in and out of the main terminal. Also, Richmond International Airport is set to receive $2.25 million to design a “consolidated Passenger Screening Checkpoint,” aimed at improving efficiency and reducing congestion.
On September 4, 2024, the initial funding of $46 million was released in federal funding for improvements to Virginia airports through the Airport Improvement Program. The funding was allocated to Lynchburg Regional Airport/Preston Glen Field, Norfolk International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Blue Ridge Regional Airport, Winchester Regional Airport, Middle Peninsula Regional Airport, and Richmond Executive/Chesterfield County Airport.
The White House signing ceremony of this landmark Act, occurred on November 15, 2021. After attending the ceremony, both Senators praised President Joe Biden in a statement noting, “The investments made possible by this law will bring Virginia’s infrastructure into the twenty-first century by fixing crumbling roadways, bolstering public transit systems, bridging the broadband gap, and strengthening our coastal resiliency.”
As former Governors of Virginia, both Kaine and Warner emphasized, “We know that getting a bill signed into law is only the beginning,” adding that they will collaborate with local stakeholders to ensure the swift and effective implementation of this legislation.
The Act represents a larger, comprehensive infrastructure initiative designed to benefit communities throughout the Commonwealth, and the nation by addressing the maintenance of roads, bridges, rail systems, and other vital infrastructure needs.
Among its provisions, the Act designates $7 billion for Virginia highways and $537 million for the replacement and repair of bridges. In Virginia, there are currently 577 bridges and over 2,000 miles of highway in dire condition. It also allocates approximately $1.2 billion to enhance public transportation across the state.
Virginia secured a minimum allocation of $100 million within this funding stream, aimed at expanding broadband access throughout the Commonwealth, particularly for the 473,000 Virginians currently without service. Notably, around 23 per cent of the state’s residents will qualify for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, designed to assist low-income families in covering internet costs.
About $106 million was given to Virginia to develop an electric vehicle (EV) charging network. The state will also have the opportunity to compete for a share of the $2.5 billion in grant funding specified in the bill for EV charging infrastructure.
The Act also supports the “Reaching America’s Rural Minority Businesses Act,” introduced by Senator Kaine and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) in May 2021.
This Act aims to empower the Minority Business Development Agency to collaborate with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as other Minority Serving Institutions, to create business centers aimed at supporting minority-owned small businesses in rural regions. These centers will offer education, training, and technical assistance to help these businesses grow and succeed.
