Tweed Airport Expansion Gets $3 Million Boost in Federal Support
Federal funding follows FAA’s environmental clearance for Tweed’s runway expansion.
Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) announced today it has received two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants totaling more than $3.1 million to support Tweed’s runway expansion and rehabilitation projects. These investments will enhance safety, extend the life of existing infrastructure, and prepare HVN to better meet the travel demand of Southern Connecticut.
This funding underscores federal collaboration and support of Connecticut’s federal delegation and the Federal Aviation Administration in HVN’s expansion project. The grant provides critical resources for runway expansion and taxiway improvements and proves the federal commitment to modernizing the airport and strengthening Southern Connecticut’s transportation infrastructure.
This grant provides funding for the first phase of expansion design work for several major improvements at the airport. These include adding new landing guidance lights to help pilots, repairing and strengthening parts of the main runway that have exceeded their useful life, and extending the runway by extending the runway by 975-feet to allow the airport to better serve and meet the demand for passenger service in southern Connecticut. The project also includes fixing and upgrading connecting taxiways that planes use to move between the runway and terminal areas, as well as adjusting one taxiway to meet updated safety standards. These upgrades will improve long-term safety, reliability and efficiency.
Additionally, this grant will provide reimbursement for Phase 2 of the environmental assessment completed in December 2023. This assessment supported the planned 975-foot extension of HVN’s runway, a key step in ensuring HVN’s long-term growth and operational readiness.
“These federal investments represent another milestone in building a stronger, more resilient, and future-ready Tweed-New Haven Airport,” said Michael Jones, CEO of The New HVN. “By modernizing our runways and taxiways, we are ensuring that HVN continues to meet the highest standards of safety and efficiency while also supporting expanded service options for Southern Connecticut residents. These improvements lay the foundation for the next generation of travel, commerce, and community benefit at Tweed.”
“The Airport Authority is grateful for this continued federal support to strengthen Tweed’s infrastructure,” said Robert Reed, Chairman of the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority. “Every dollar invested in our runways and taxiways is an investment in the future of our region’s economy. These grants will help us serve more passengers safely, attract new air service, and support local businesses while maintaining our deep commitment to being a responsible partner in the community.”
The FAA’s Airport Improvement Program provides funding to public-use airports for planning and development projects that enhance safety, capacity, security, and environmental sustainability.
