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FAA Sets Public Meetings Today, Tomorrow on Proposed Runway Expansion at Green

Posted on: Thursday, 20 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

WARWICK - The Federal Aviation Administration will hold public meetings today and tomorrow on the "purpose and need" for a longer main runway and a bigger terminal at T.F. Green Airport, a plan backed by Governor Carcieri and the state Airport Corporation.

Both meetings are scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Today's will be held in the Buttonwoods Community Center, at 3027 West Shore Rd. in Warwick, tomorrow's at the William Hall Library, 1825 Broad St., Cranston.

In a statement yesterday, the FAA said the expansion would improve safety at Green and "enhance the efficiency of the airport and regional airport system and meet future demand for aviation service."

Such meetings have been held before during previous efforts to write a new master plan for Rhode Island's principal state airport. At 5 p.m., residents can speak individually with consultants working on the project's environmental study and, starting at 7, can comment publicly.

Mayor Scott Avedisian said he and city planners will attend today's meeting in Warwick to speak against the expansion proposal, which entails lengthening Green's 7,166-foot main runway to as much as 9,500 feet and condemning as many as 359 additional houses in the city.

"We're going to talk about how we think the [environmental impact statement] needs to be better structured, and will detail again the concerns that we want the EIS to look at," Avedisian said.

"We'll also ask them, once and for all, to really give us an answer to the question, 'What is [the Rhode Island Airport Corporation]? Is it a state agency, is it a quasi-public agency, is it an FAA-regulated agency?" he said. "We want an answer as to what it is and who has authority over what."

Source: Providence Journal

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