Montana Department Of Transportation Approves Funding For Local Airport Projects

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Aeronautics Board approved over $2.85 million in funding during its Helena meeting Jan. 17 and 18. The requests were for a variety of improvement projects that focused on runway, taxiway, and apron reconstruction, master plans, lighting enhancements, land easements, perimeter fencing, building construction, and snow removal and weather equipment.

A portion of the money awarded in grants and loans each year goes to leverage 90/10 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) match dollars for large airport construction projects. Over $4.3 million was requested by 31 public-use airports across the state. The Board awarded funds for 58 of 69 different project requests for 27 of Montana’s public airports, to include federally and non-federally funded projects.

Any public airport is eligible to apply for assistance through the loan and grant program. Funds can be used for a wide variety of airport and aviation related projects. Applications for the funding are due for submission to MDT’s Aeronautics Division on November 15 each year, and the money is typically awarded in January of the following year. Although the money is awarded in January, the funds are not available until the beginning of the next fiscal year which is July 1. During the meeting, the Montana Aeronautics Board reviews the applications and takes public comment before making final award determinations for the upcoming fiscal year.

Projects funded locally:

Glasgow: (Wokal Field / Glasgow-Valley County). Rehabilitate Runway Lighting/Electrical Vault $30,005

Malta: Acquire Snow Removal Equipment/Urea Truck/etc. $29,325

Scobey: Rehabilitate Apron $2,924. Rehabilitate Runway $15,147. Rehabilitate Taxiway $3,179