New Grant Program Authorizes $1 Billion Annually to Fix Airport Traffic Jams Starting 2027

The “Don’t Miss Your Flight Act” is exactly what it sounds like: a major push to tackle the nightmare of getting to and from the airport. This bill establishes a new grant program, run by the Secretary of Transportation, that authorizes $1 billion annually from the Highway Trust Fund, starting in fiscal year 2027 through 2031. The money is strictly earmarked for projects that improve roads, rail, or transit systems connecting to public airports, or infrastructure within five miles of the airport boundaries.

The Billion-Dollar Bypass: What’s Getting Funded

Think about the last time you were stuck on the access road, watching your flight time tick away. This bill aims to fix that by funding infrastructure that specifically cuts down on traffic, increases capacity, or improves access to hard-to-reach airport areas. Eligible projects include highway and bridge work (under Title 23 rules), public transit projects (under Chapter 53 rules), and passenger rail improvements. This means state, tribal, and local governments—or the public agencies that run the airports—can apply for federal dollars to finally upgrade that choked-up interchange or build a new transit link.

Where the Money is Really Going

Here’s the fine print that tells you who benefits most: The bill mandates that at least 50% of the annual $1 billion must go toward projects connecting to “large hub airports,” and another 30% must be set aside for “medium hub airports.” If you live near a major international gateway like JFK, LAX, or O’Hare, your local government has a much better shot at landing this cash to build a rail link or expand the airport’s main highway. For the rest of us using smaller, regional airports, the competition for the remaining 20% of the funds will be steep. While the intent is great—to fix the worst bottlenecks—it’s clear the focus is on easing the pain at the country’s busiest travel hubs.

Making the Deal Easier for Local Governments

One smart feature of this bill is how it helps local governments cover their share of the project costs. Typically, federal grants require a local match (the non-federal share). This act allows applicants to use credit assistance from the TIFIA program (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) or even passenger facility charges (those fees you pay when you buy a ticket) to cover their portion. This flexibility means cash-strapped cities and states are more likely to apply for and execute these large-scale, expensive projects, potentially speeding up construction on those much-needed flyovers and transit lines.

The Real-World Impact

Ultimately, this is about time and stress. For the average person, this bill promises smoother airport commutes. If you’re a truck driver making deliveries near a major airport, or a commuter relying on public transit that shares access roads with the airport, these improvements could mean less time idling in traffic. However, the bill’s success hinges on how the Secretary of Transportation defines "cuts down on traffic jams"—a metric that can be tricky to measure. But with $1 billion per year dedicated to this specific problem, the odds of seeing real infrastructure improvements around our major airports just went way up.