Don’t Miss Your Flight Act
This bill would create a new federal grant program under the Department of Transportation to fund surface transportation projects that connect to public airports. Eligible entities—states, Indian Tribes, or local government units that control a public airport—could receive grants for highway/bridge, public transit, or passenger rail projects that connect to an airport, are on land within 5 miles of that airport, and aim to reduce congestion, expand capacity, improve access to under-connected areas, or rehabilitate related infrastructure. The program requires that a substantial share of funding target connections to larger or medium hub airports as of the date of enactment. It also allows flexible cost-sharing, including letting non-federal partners use TIFIA credit assistance or passenger facility charges toward the non-federal share. The bill authorizes $1 billion per year for 2027–2031 from the Highway Trust Fund (excluding the Mass Transit Account) to carry out the program. In short, this Act aims to spur intermodal connectivity between airports and surrounding transportation networks, with a structured funding approach and specific allocation priorities to connect major airport hubs. If enacted, it could influence where and how communities invest in airport-adjacent roads, bridges, rail, and transit to improve travel reliability for air passengers and freight.
Key Points
- 1Eligible entities: States, Indian Tribes, or local government units (including public agencies) that control a public airport can apply for grants.
- 2Eligible projects: Projects that connect to a public airport and are on land within 5 miles of the airport, targeting improvements to highways/bridges, public transit, or passenger rail that reduce congestion or expand capacity.
- 3Allocation requirements: At least 50% of annual funding must go to projects connecting to large hub airports; at least 30% to projects connecting to medium hub airports, as defined by the airport hub classification in 49 U.S.C. §47102, as of enactment.
- 4Cost-sharing flexibility: The non-Federal share can include TIFIA credit assistance and passenger facility charges (PFCs) collected by the eligible entity.
- 5Funding authorization: $1,000,000,000 per fiscal year from 2027 through 2031, drawn from the Highway Trust Fund (excluding the Mass Transit Account).