Fitchburg Airport gets $13.8M for runway improvements
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Fitchburg Municipal Airport
Fitchburg Municipal Airport will receive a rebuilt and expanded runway and improved taxiway thanks to $13.8 million in federal funding announced Wednesday.
The airport was by far the largest of 10 small airports in Massachusetts to receive funding, which the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's aeronautics division awarded in grants originating from the Federal Aviation Administration. In total, the airports received $27 million for a range of infrastructure, safety and environmental projects or for planning.
Fitchburg Municipal Airport has a primary 4,500-foot lighted runway and a secondary 3,505-foot runway. The city-owned airport doesn't have commercial flights but is available for generally smaller aircraft with wing spans of up to 79 feet. Airport Director Scott Ellis has said extending the runways to 5,000 feet will make the airport more attractive to businesses to use the airport but would want to use a longer runway.
The airport, which sits between downtown and Route 2 at the Leominster line, opened a new administration building in the fall of 2017 whose $4-million cost was covered by the state. It has received federal funding for clearing trees around the perimeter of the property.
Airports are eligible for a certain amount of state or federal funding each year based on passenger volume. Small and general aviation airports that receive grants have 90% to 95% percent of eligible costs covered.
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