"Longer Philadelphia airport runway would do no harm, FAA says"

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Lengthening airport runway wouldn't be harmful, FAA study says
By Tom Belden
THE PHILADELPHIA (PA) INQUIRER


Lengthening a north-south runway at Philadelphia International Airport would
have "no significant impact" on the airport's physical environment or nearby
communities, according to a Federal Aviation Administration study released
this week.

The study, the first draft of an environmental impact statement that by law
the FAA must undertake on the project, is the first step in adding up to
1,500 feet to the runway to help reduce air-traffic congestion.
Philadelphia's is one of the nation's most delay-prone airports, in part
because of its runway layout.

The study determined that adding either 1,000 or 1,500 feet to the
5,460-foot runway would require the rerouting of 2,500 feet of Route 291,
which runs between the airport and I-95. The highway would be rerouted onto
Bartram Avenue, north of I-95.

The project also would require closing a service station at Route 291 and
Island Avenue, and moving some spaces in the airport's economy parking lot
that would be in the path of the extension. The extension would not require
acquisition of land.

The study found that the construction would have "no impact" or "no
significant impact" on aircraft noise, air quality, water quality, historic
sites, or endangered or threatened species.

Airport officials have said they expect the $40 million project to be
completed in 2007. The project would be paid for by federal and local taxes
and fees paid by airline passengers.

Adding length would allow the runway, one of four at the airport, to be used
by more midsize jets, such as 737s and A320s, which now primarily use the
airport's longer east-west runways. The project would reduce the average
delay for departing flights by one to seven minutes, depending on future air
traffic and on whether the runway was 1,000 feet or 1,500 feet longer, the
study said.

Copies of the study are available at an FAA Web site,
www.PHLrunway17-35eis.com, and at more than 40 public libraries in
Southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware. The FAA will hold
public hearings on the project on Nov. 14 at West Deptford High School,
Gloucester County; Nov. 15 at Brandywine High School, New Castle, Del.; and
Nov. 16 at the Eastwick at the Meadows conference center, 6630 Lindbergh
Blvd., Philadelphia.


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