Rep. Alma Adams Celebrates New Grants for Charlotte Airport (CLT)

CHARLOTTE - Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D, NC-12), representing a large portion of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and part of Cabarrus County, celebrated news last Thursday of an additional $25 million investment in Charlotte International Airport (CLT), announced by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

“New families and young workers continue to find opportunity in the fast-growing Charlotte metro area, and an expanded airport will serve us well,” said Rep. Adams, who was in Washington, D.C. for votes on Thursday. “We'll be thankful for generations to the Biden/Harris White House, Secretary Buttigieg, Mayor Lyles, Governor Cooper, and the last Congress for putting partisan politics aside and getting this timely work done. In North Carolina, construction workers will stay busy, helping infrastructure keep up with rapid growth of our cities, businesses, and families.”

The grants add to the already $161.6 million that CLT has received as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the bipartisan infrastructure law passed in November 2021 under President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Schumer. They also add to a vast and growing series of overall infrastructure investments in the district and state, including in high-speed internet, clean energy, public transportation and electrification.

The investments in CLT have helped power the last round of the airport hub’s major expansion, which includes a new elevated roadway, 31 new gates, expansions to four concourses, a renovation and expansion of both major passenger terminals, a new parking garage, a new 367ft-high air traffic control tower, a new runway to accommodate new flights, new passenger skybridges and pedestrian tunnels, new retail space for profit-generating shops, restaurants, and a brewery, and additional vehicle lanes for passenger pick-up and drop-off.

The newest $27 million tranche announced by Secretary Buttigieg will help North Carolina workers build 16 new “jetways,” the boarding walkways passengers use to board planes, plus new equipment to power and air condition them. This will vastly cut delays at the airport.

“Even most of us infrastructure nerds don’t wake up in the morning thinking about jet bridges, but if your flight arrived on-time only for you to be waiting to get off that plane because there’s an issue with the jet bridge, you’re thinking about nothing else,” Secretary Buttigieg said on Thursday.

The overall expansion is expected to be completed in 2025, giving the Charlotte metro area one of the largest capacity airports in the country. This will bring vast economic growth to the region, keeping more restaurants and shops in business, and will help Charlotte-area residents access more low-cost flights for their own travel plans.

The IIJA also provided Concord Padgett Regional Airport with $5.5 million for its own modest expansion. Rep. Adams celebrated these developments and more to come.

“These investments show us the importance of steady, low-ego, results-focused governance,” said Rep. Adams. “This administration is getting the job done for Charlotte.”

###

Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.