The federal government will invest millions to improve the airfield at\u00a0Austin-Bergstrom International Airport amid the largest expansion project in the\u00a0facility\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
The Federal Aviation Administration<\/a> will reimburse $108 million for infrastructure upgrades, Austin airport officials announced Monday. The airfield project, which is part of\u00a0the airport\u2019s long-term \u201cJourney with\u00a0AUS\u201d improvement plan, will add new parallel taxiways, high-speed exits and other enhancements to support a forthcoming second concourse\u00a0scheduled to open in the early 2030s.<\/p>\n The federally supported improvements will \u201creduce congestion, enhance operational safety, and ensure\u00a0AUS can accommodate future growth,\u201d according to an airport news release.<\/p>\n U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, led a bipartisan push for the funding last summer, sending a letter of support that was also signed by Austin-area Democratic Rep. Greg\u00a0Casar and Republican Reps.\u00a0Michael\u00a0McCaul, Chip Roy and John Carter.<\/p>\n \u201cThis long-term federal commitment is essential to constructing an airport large enough to accommodate our rapid growth,\u201d Doggett said in a statement Monday. \u201cTogether, we will continue working to assure our airport can safely serve the truly international city that Austin has become.\u201d<\/p>\n The new taxiways are\u00a0expected to be complete in 2027<\/a> ahead of construction on the midfield concourse. Concourse B, one of\u00a0the keystone projects in the Journey with AUS plan, will include at least 20 new gates and connect to the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal through an underground tunnel. The airport has already secured<\/a> $96 million from\u00a0the FAA to put toward the $2 billion concourse.<\/p>\n