"Runway Expansion Plan Proceeds at Clearwater, Fla.-Area Airport"

Wednesday, May 12, 2004

Runway Expansion Plan Proceeds at Clearwater, Fla.-Area Airport
The Tampa (FL) Tribune


CLEARWATER, Fla. -- With no guarantee of new flights, Pinellas County
commissioners on Tuesday approved proceeding with permits and design
work for a controversial runway extension at St. Petersburg-Clearwater
International Airport.

The $13.1 million project, to be completed in the next two years, calls
for extending the airport's main north- south runway to 10,000 feet from
8,800 feet and making necessary safety improvements.

County officials hope the longer runway will attract European charter
flights, despite a consultant's finding that the project, by itself,
will not guarantee trans-Atlantic airliners.

"To think that we'll be able to compete in this market, I'm not sure is
possible at this point," said Commissioner Karen Seel, who, with John
Morroni, voted against the extension.

Also opposing the extension are many homeowners in Feather Sound, Safety
Harbor, Oldsmar and east Clearwater neighborhoods who argue the air
traffic already is too noisy.

However, the other five commissioners called the extension, approved two
years ago after federal funding was secured, a key economic development
tool.

"It's guaranteed we'll never have a charter flight if we don't have a
proper runway," commission Chairwoman Susan Latvala said. "Who knows
what the market's going to be like in two, four years?"

Commissioner Barbara Sheen Todd denied that the county is trying to
compete with airports in Tampa and Orlando.

"That simply isn't the case," she said. "They can't compete with us."


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