Airport Corporation Gets Grant to Acquire 21 Houses Near Green

The Rhode Island Airport Corporation will receive $5 million from the Federal Aviation Administration to acquire 21 homes in the voluntary home acquisition program located near T.F. Green Airport.

“This program continues to provide an alternative for families around T.F. Green Airport who have been forced to cope with airport noise,” said Sen. Jack Reed, who announced the award yesterday. Reed is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which oversees federal financing for the program.

Kevin Dillon, president and chief executive officer of the state airport corporation, said, “We are appreciative of the efforts of Senator Reed and the members of our congressional delegation to obtain federal funding for important airport projects. This $5 million allocated to the important voluntary home acquisition program will accelerate the buyout of additional homes in Warwick.”

Reed has brought FAA officials to Rhode Island in the past to show them the airport’s growth and the related growing pains that expansion has had on the local community, especially in terms of greater aircraft noise. Reed also has urged the FAA to carefully study the increased airport traffic to determine what additional steps would be needed to abate noise and has secured a commitment to increase the amount of FAA assistance for soundproofing at T.F. Green.

The voluntary home acquisition program is a continuing effort by the airport corporation to mitigate the impact of noise on the surrounding communities.

Originally published by Journal staff report.

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