WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski  (both D-MD) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the Frederick Municipal Airport $380,000 to conduct an environmental assessment of its  five-year infrastructure development plan. 

The Frederick Airport is moving forward with major capital improvements, including lengthening its primary runway, aircraft storage hangars, corporate hangars, and fuel farm expansion. Last year, Senators Cardin and Mikulski announced a DOT grant of $2.2 million to purchase land for the runway extension. 

“The Frederick Municipal Airport has become an important facility to the Washington metropolitan region and Western Maryland,” said Senator Cardin.  “This funding will enable the airport to stay on track with its development plans for the future and it will improve safety and efficiency.”

”Our regional airports play a key role in maintaining Maryland's robust economy. That’s why I am pleased to announce this funding for Frederick Municipal Airport,” said Senator Mikulski.  “I will continue to fight to keep Marylanders on the move and to keep Frederick a priority in the federal checkbook.”

Frederick Municipal Airport is the second busiest airport in Maryland in terms of annual operations, behind BWI/Thurgood Marshall Airport.  Estimates indicate that Airport operations are expected to grow from 130,000 annually in 2008 to approximately 165,000 in 2025.  The airport generates approximately $110 million dollars to the local economy.