Article Summary –
US Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, recently visited the Missoula Montana Airport to celebrate the funding and progress of its expansion project, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The airport, which has received $41 million from the law and other sources, undertook a $64.6 million first phase of renovation in 2022, with subsequent phases to expand baggage claim, add a rental car center and more gates, and convert a ground boarding gate to a jet bridge. Aside from airport improvements, Montana also received $2.4 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support various transportation projects.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg Supports Montana Infrastructure Projects
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg voiced his support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its role in funding projects in Montana during his visit to the Missoula Montana Airport.
Buttigieg celebrated the airport’s expansion, saying, “I’m proud to support the expansion of this airport with $41 million and counting.” The airport expansion, costing over $100 million, has benefited greatly from grants through the bipartisan bill, according to Airport Director Brian Ellestad.
Ellestad disclosed that the airport also obtained various other federal and state grants, as well as local financing via First Security Bank. The $64.6 million first phase of the project, encompassing the renovation of several areas of the airport, concluded in 2022.
Ellestad explained that smaller renovations in the past caused the airport’s layout to become unwieldy. The expansion rectified this issue, while subsequent phases aim to further enhance the airport with an expanded baggage claim, rental car center, additional gates, and more.
Completion of the second phase is projected for the next year, with the final phase set to wrap up eight months after.
Buttigieg acknowledged the inadequacy of previous upgrades to the airport’s terminal buildings, which date back to 1948, and did not accommodate the community’s growth. He pointed out that the airport’s pre-expansion layout and size made it difficult to accommodate visitors and drove up ticket prices, creating regional challenges.
Buttigieg praised U.S. Sen. Jon Tester for his role in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which required bipartisan collaboration. Tester was a key player in developing the package in 2021.
Post-renovation, the Missoula Airport expanded flights and lowered ticket prices, Buttigieg noted. For instance, Frontier Airlines will add a new flight from Missoula to Phoenix, and reinstating its seasonal service to Denver. Sun Country also plans to start nonstop flights from Missoula to Minneapolis in June, leading Ellestad to predict a continuous decrease in airfares.
In 2022, the airport broke its previous passenger record, with over 913,000 visitors, a trend expected to continue this year.
Further Montana transportation projects that received federal funding through the bipartisan bill include a $2.9 million replacement of the Lolo Street Bridge, a $24 million upgrade to U.S. Highway 200, and a $25 million allocation for safety and mobility projects in downtown Missoula.
Buttigieg concluded by highlighting that Montana transportation projects have received a total of $2.4 billion from the bipartisan bill. The increased funding is meant to bridge the gap between project needs and available resources. He also encouraged small communities to approach the department for specific resources, emphasizing that the infrastructure program strives to balance immediate and long-term projects.
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