The U.S. Department of Transportation allotted more than $9 million in funding to 10 airports around the state, with Lafayette securing the largest chunk for safety improvements to the runway as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Lafayette Regional Airport is getting a nearly $6 million boost from the feds to help with its mandated $28 million investment in safety improvements by the end of 2015.
A release from U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany's office says the U.S. Department of Transportation has allotted more than $9 million in funding to 10 airports statewide, $5.8 million of which is slated for runway improvement projects at Lafayette Regional.
The funds will go toward the overall $28 million worth of safety improvements the airport must make by the end of 2015 as required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Lafayette's flight hub experienced record passenger counts in May and also has big dreams of expansion in the near future, though funding for future growth remains an issue. The Advocate reported recently that airport officials are researching funding sources for a new terminal, with early estimates setting the price tag at roughly $60 million.
The airport offers multiple daily nonstop flights to Atlanta, Dallas and Houston.