We are pleased to announce that the Block Grant Program in Texas has been expanded to include the twenty-one Reliever Airports in the state. The Aviation Division staff is ready to provide the same high level of service that we have been providing to the General Aviation non reliever airports.
Congress recently passed the FY-97 FAA Reauthorization, which made the State Block Grant Program permanent, eliminated set-aside discretionary funds for reliever airports, and increased state apportionment funds by 6.5%. Reliever airports now compete with all other general aviation airports for Al P funds. Texas’ new State Block Grant is estimated at $18.7 million for FY-97.
To ensure a smooth transition, the Aviation Division and the FAA are conducting meetings with each reliever airport sponsor to review and evaluate proposed improvements and funding needs.
Based on these meetings and recommendations from FAA, the Aviation Division will develop a Capital Improvement Program (GIP) for the reliever airports. The GIP must be approved by the Texas Transportation Commission before any grants may be issued.
Current and open reliever airport improvement projects or other airport-related items will continue to be managed by the FAA through the closeout procedure. All new projects and related airport items will be the responsibility of the Aviation Division except for compliance issues, which will remain with the FAA Airport Development Office.
The airports affected by this legislative change are:
- Arlington Municipal
- Grand Prairie Municipal
- Denton Municipal
- Mesquite Metro
- Lancaster Municipal
- McKinney Municipal
- Dallas Redbird
- Fort Worth Spinks
- Fort Worth Alliance
- Fort Worth Meacham
- Dallas Addison
- Brazoria County
- Montgomery County
- La Porte Municipal
- West Houston
- Stinson Municipal
- Clover Field
- Houston Hooks
- Austin Executive
- San Marcos
- Sugar Land-Hull
