The topic of the Airport's future continues to buzz around town. That buzz is sure to get louder as the contractor who is developing the new airport master plan brings the recommendations forward to the Board of Trustees.
The contractor has already been in hot water for developing and sharing the new plan with airport advocates before town staff or your elected officials could see it to ensure the interests of the majority of Erie residents are best served.
At a minimum this has the appearance that the new master plan was developed outside of having the best interests of Erie overall in mind.
I can tell you as your elected official that I will have a hard time supporting any master plan that is in conflict with the 2009 Airport Economic Study which gave an understanding of the actual economic situation at the Erie airport. The consulting company, Boyd International, did this report for Erie. Based in Colorado, but recognized internationally as airport experts, Michael Boyd is often on the news talking about aviation.
I’m told there are at least two controversial elements in the report. One is references to a potential extension of the main runway and a reactivation of the secondary runway. Both of these go counter to the economic study and appear not to be in the best interest of Erie overall.
I’ll be asking these simple questions when the report comes to the Trustees for adoption:
- How will expanding the main runway to provide larger jet service to Erie benefit the majority of homeowners in Erie?
- How would increased noise and expanded frequency of larger planes maintain and increase Erie property values?
- With the FAA saying they would not financially support reopening the closed secondary runway, how would we fund the reopening?
- How would the perception of the expansion impact future development, both residential and retail?
I would like to see the Airport become a successful, fully self sustained business in Erie, just not on the backs of Erie’s residents.
Take care,
Janice
Janice,
ReplyDeleteI remain convinced our airport is nothing but a liability to Erie. The airport is incapable of sustaining itself without public giveaways, and exaggerated even laughable assumptions. The Erie Airport is as also a public safety hazard with four accidents in the past 18 months including one fatality and another crash that hit a home. The primary uses of our airport seem to be training and test flights, both high risk activities.
I recommend Erie follow Denver's lead with Stapleton and do as they did, condemn the airport and redevelop the property.
The airport sits on prime real estate, an ideal location for major commercial development. Furthermore the location would make a fantastic gateway to Erie, rerouting visitors into our town away from the Trash Company and Lafayette's sewer system which currently decorates our town's primary entrance.
The Board of Trustees must consider other alternatives for the airport property besides continuing the use as an airport. The alternative business cases are far more attractive to the citizens of Erie.
Dear Janice,
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping Erie residents informed of this airport expansion proposal. You are asking the right questions. I don't see any obvious benefit to Erie residents, given we have easy access to DIA. It is not clear to me any financial benefit to Town of Erie from this proposal.