Tri-Cities Airport shares in $190M from FAA for Washington. Here’s what it will pay for

The Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco will get a share of $190 million in federal grants awarded to 37 Washington sites.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Airport Improvement Program is paying for updates to airports across the state.

The Tri-Cities Airport, which is owned and operated by the Port of Pasco, was awarded $4.4 million through the Federal Aviation Administration grants, announced by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

The award includes $3 million to install runway guidance systems and $1.4 million to reconstruct runway lighting and make other improvements.

The Tri-Cities Airport is served by Allegiant, Avelo, Delta Airlines, Alaska, United and American Airlines, who provide direct service to Seattle/Tacoma, Burbank, Calif., Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego and San Francisco.

The airport is on track to match its 2019 record, when more than 438,000 passengers boarded plans in Pasco. Through October, 356,000 passengers had used the local airport.

Neighboring airports also shared in the FAA grants.

Yakima Air Terminal/McAllister Field received $3.7 million, Prosser Airport ($250,000), Richland Airport ($160,000), Pangborn Memorial Airport at Wenatchee ($8.4 million), Walla Walla Regional Airport ($8 million), Spokane International ($53.7 million) and Pullman/Moscow Regional Airport ($8.4 million).

Seattle-Tacoma International received $68 million.

This story was originally published December 26, 2023 at 5:00 AM.