Phoenix City Council has approved plans to construct a cross-field taxiway connecting the north and south airfields at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
The 2,000-foot taxiway will improve aircraft flow and airfield operations at PHX. Design work is already underway and federal environmental approvals are expected this summer.
Phoenix City Council said:When we improve aircraft flow for Sky Harbor, we increase opportunities for our airport around the world – both in business and leisure travel. As a member of our Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee, I am consistently looking for opportunities to boost Phoenix’s global connectivity, and this new taxiway will do just that.
The new taxiway is the first project in Phoenix to benefit from funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The project has an estimated cost of 260 million USD, and approximately 194 million USD is anticipated to come from the allocated infrastructure funds. The remaining balance will be sourced from Passenger Facility Charges and airport revenues.
This airfield project is another step in connecting Phoenix to the world. As one of the first projects for the city identified for delivery under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this new taxiway will reduce aircraft taxi time, improve utilisation of all runways, and add capacity for our airline partners. Infrastructure investments like this make our city even more attractive to the global aviation industry including travellers using Sky Harbor.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will also set aside 5 billion USD for airport terminal projects and provide competitive grant opportunities for projects that promote sustainability. Potential projects to support PHX’s increasing passenger traffic include a second north concourse at Terminal 3, a pedestrian bridge between Terminals 3 and 4, infrastructure improvements at Terminal 4, upgrades to garage lighting, new solar installations, and electrification of fleet vehicles.