The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded Texas A&M University a grant of $1,923,485 for improvements at the Easterwood Field Airport, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced Monday. The funding is awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an agency of the Department of Transportation.

“These funds will help address the need for maintenance and safety, key components in the long-term economic development in the Bryan-College Station area,” Cornyn said. “I applaud the local community for its efforts to attract these funds and address the need to maintain safe and operative taxiways. And I’m pleased that the Department of Transportation recognized this opportunity for growth and is funding it.”

Project funds will be used to improve airport drainage and the runway safety area and also to install perimeter fencing. “The rapidly growing population of Texas is fast outstripping the growth of infrastructure,” Cornyn said. “If we are to remain a leader in trade with other states and other nations, we must continue to modernize and improve our airports and other transportation facilities.”

The FAA gives millions of dollars each year to provide for airport safety and improvement under the Airport Improvement Program. Funds are used for airport planning, development, noise reduction, capacity, and other projects.

Cornyn is co-chairman of Transportation Excellence for the 21st Century (TEX-21), a non-profit statewide coalition composed of mayors, city council members, county judges and others who focus on transportation issues. TEX-21 addresses key concerns regarding transportation, especially funding, safety, design standards, NAFTA trade corridors, national defense and homeland security. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and various members of the Texas Congressional delegation are also on the panel.