TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced $18.9 million for 53 airport development projects across Kansas. By leveraging local matches, the awards will contribute $95 million in total improvements to the state’s aviation network.
The funding supports the planning, construction, and rehabilitation of public-use general aviation airports, which are critical to the state’s economy and emergency services.
The Kansas Department of Transportation, Division of Aviation (KDOT Aviation) received 105 applications seeking a combined total of $38.87 million for this round of Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) grants. Projects were selected from around the state and focused heavily on maximizing the impact of state funding for pavement maintenance, safety enhancements, and air ambulance access improvements.
“Kansas airports are important components of our overall transportation system,” said Secretary Calvin Reed, Kansas Department of Transportation. “The KAIP allows us to work alongside our local and federal partners to deliver a safe, reliable aviation network. By prioritizing safety and preservation today, we are building a transportation system that works for all Kansans well into the future.”
The KAIP program receives $15 million annually through the bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). For the first time this year, the program also considered multi-year phased projects to help smaller communities tackle larger-scale improvements over time.
Projects in Southwest Kansas include:
- Harold Krier Field (Ashland): $281,700 for runway design and land acquisition
- Dodge City Regional Airport: $1,300,000 for new hangar and above-ground fuel tanks
- Hugoton Municipal Airport: $36,500 to reconstruct airport entrance road
- Jetmore Municipal Airport: $572,400 to replace navaids and runway lighting
- Kearny County Airport (Lakin): $1,112,500 for runway turnarounds and apron reconstruction
- Mark Hoard Memorial Airport (Leoti): $88,830 to install jet fuel tank
- Mid-America Regional Airport (Liberal): $127,500 to design new terminal building
- Ness City Municipal Airport: $405,000 for hangar taxilane reconstruction
- Satanta Municipal Airport: $119,250 for runway preservation and re-striping
- Stanton County Municipal (Johnson City): $495,000 to reconstruct taxilane
- Sublette Municipal Airport: $231,300 to construct apron
- Ulysses Airport: $800,000 to reconstruct west hangar taxilane
