WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 — Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) Thursday announced the Burlington International Airport (BTV) will receive $2,637,844 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants to improve the efficiency and safety of operations.

The grants were awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and will be used to extend two existing taxiways, the final phase in an ongoing infrastructure improvement project at Burlington International Airport.

In a joint statement, Leahy, Sanders and Welch said: “Burlington International Airport is one of the essential gateways into Vermont.   The airport is a critical part of the Vermont economy and facilitates economic development for the entire region.  It is often the first place that domestic and international tourists to our state see and these federal grants will ensure the quality of the airport’s infrastructure matches the quality of the services travelers will find beyond the gates.”

“We feel very grateful to have received these funds that will help better serve Vermonters and the northeast region,” said Gene Richards, Director of Aviation at Burlington International Airport.