Council accepts FAA grants for Jetport projects including apron, boarding bridges; staff outline funding structure

The Portland City Council voted to accept and appropriate Federal Aviation Administration grants for airport infrastructure work at the Portland International Jetport, including terminal apron reconstruction and replacement or repair of passenger boarding bridges.

Paul Bradbury, Portland’s airport director, presented the request and said the grants come from two primary buckets: the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) financed by the Aviation Trust Fund and a separate set of federal funds provided under the bipartisan infrastructure law. "These funds are for safety, security, and maintenance of, aviation infrastructure," Bradbury said, and described projects that include reconstruction of the terminal apron sections in front of the terminal (gates 3–5), replacement or refurbishment of passenger boarding bridges at gates 3–7 and improvements wrapping up at gates 11, 12 and 14.

Bradbury explained how airport finances and federal grant requirements interact with city services. "Part of the acceptance of these grants and included in your packet is this document called the grant assurances...the airports need to be self sustaining," he said. He noted that the airport pays for central city services it consumes and that the Federal Aviation Administration requires that proceeds generated at the airport remain available to support airport obligations. Bradbury also told the council the airport has "just over $90,000,000 in general airport revenue bonds outstanding."

A member of the public, George Roe, urged the council to be clearer about the financial relationship between the airport and the city, asking whether grant- or project-related work benefits Portland workers and whether the city receives a clear accounting of how airport-generated funds are used across municipal services. Councilors responded by noting the matter is reviewed in budget and finance committee processes; Councilor Sykes said the finance committee holds an "in-depth discussion" of the Jetport's enterprise finances during budget deliberations.

Councilor Grant asked about a pending parking-lot project at the airport; Bradbury said that project is not part of the grant package and will be considered separately by the planning board. The council adopted the appropriation by roll call; the clerk read the roll and members voted in the affirmative.

The order was read as Order 11920425, described on the agenda as "approving and appropriating a Federal Aviation Administration administered Airport Improvement Program and airport infrastructure federal fiscal year 2025 grants." The meeting record shows no conditions attached to the appropriations beyond standard grant assurances and required budgeting procedures.