Morristown Airport Secures $15.2M for Runway Projects

The federal grant covers nearly 94% of the runway safety funding approved by the Morristown Town Council at its October 27 meeting.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in City Hall

Morristown Airport Secures $15.2M for Runway Projects

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Morristown Municipal Airport will receive approximately $15.2 million for runway safety improvement projects. The Morristown Town Council adopted two ordinances approving the funding at its October 27 meeting.

Why it matters

The runway work affects operations at Morristown Municipal Airport, and the council's approval moves the projects forward with no taxpayer dollars contributed to the runway costs. The council also addressed several other municipal matters at the same meeting.

The FAA grant covers nearly 94% of the $15.2 million, while NJDOT and DM Airports Ltd. split the remaining 6%, and no taxpayer dollars are contributed. The Runway 5-23 Rehabilitation Project remains ongoing, and the extraction does not specify the final completion date.

The players

Morristown Town Council

The governing body of Morristown, New Jersey, responsible for adopting municipal ordinances and resolutions.

Federal Aviation Administration

The federal agency that provides the grant covering nearly 94% of the runway funding at Morristown Municipal Airport.

New Jersey Department of Transportation

The state agency contributing a share of the remaining runway funding alongside DM Airports Ltd.

DM Airports Ltd.

The entity contributing a share of the remaining runway funding alongside the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

The details

The council approved two ordinances, one of which amended the issuance window for tow truck and wrecker operator licenses to April 1 through March 31 of the following year. Three additional ordinances were introduced, including one reappropriating $42,365 for fire truck repairs and one granting a temporary construction easement for a multi-family building at 25 Market St. Nineteen resolutions were passed, nine added after an executive session, all authorizing settlement of tax appeals.

Timeline

  1. October 27, 2026: Town council approved the runway ordinances and other measures at its regular meeting.

  2. July–August 2027: Runway 5-23 will be closed for Phase XII of the project.

Political Context

The FAA grant covering nearly 94% of the runway costs places this project within the federal airport improvement funding structure, where federal dollars carry most of the financial burden. Local and state contributions cover the remaining share, keeping taxpayer exposure at zero for this runway work.

Runway 5-23 at Morristown Municipal Airport will close for Phase XII in July and August 2027, affecting aircraft operations during that window. Residents should expect the runway work to proceed without direct taxpayer cost, since the federal and state shares cover the funding.

The takeaway

The runway funding is set largely by federal grant dollars, so the projects proceed without new local tax burden. Watch for the Phase XII closure window if you rely on the airport.

What happens next

Runway 5-23 will be closed for Phase XII between July and August 2027.

Further reading

Follow local decisions in the City Hall section for more on Morristown council actions.

Source note: This article includes information reported by New Jersey Hills.

Live Poll

Do you support using federal grants for local airport runway improvements?