Paine Field Scores $22M Federal Grant for Runway Repairs

Federal infrastructure dollars are flowing to Snohomish County’s growing airport

Good news for travelers flying out of Everett: Paine Field has been awarded $22.15 million in federal grant funding to repair and upgrade its main runway — a significant investment for an airport that only opened its passenger terminal six years ago.

The grant, announced by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, comes through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding will go toward fixing “blisters” — raised deformities that have formed in the asphalt of Runway 16R/34L since it was paved in 2019. Left unaddressed, the damage could shorten the runway’s usable lifespan considerably. The project will also redesign taxiway layouts that pilots have found confusing, and convert runway lighting to energy-efficient LEDs.

Paine Field serves as a convenient option for travelers across Snohomish County and the broader region, and passenger numbers have been climbing steadily since commercial flights launched in 2019. Officials project the airport could handle up to four million passengers annually by 2040.

“This funding will rehabilitate 2,100 feet of the airport’s main runway, correct confusing taxiway layouts, and upgrade runway lighting,” said Sen. Cantwell. “These improvements protect the $59 billion in annual economic impact and 159,000 jobs Paine Field supports.”

The grant is part of the $25 billion reserved for airport improvements in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Washington airports received nearly $200 million through related federal programs in 2023 and over $133 million in 2024.