"Lawmakers Meet to Discuss Alternative Atlanta Airport"

ATLANTA (FOX 5) – As air traffic and congestion continue to increase at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, some leaders said it is time to once again look at creating a second major airport for Atlanta.

Video: Lawmakers Meet to Discuss Alternative Atlanta Airport
FOX 5's Tony Thomas Reports

Several northeast Georgia lawmakers met Thursday night in hopes of finding the best spot for what some have called a second Hartsfield-Jackson.

The elected leaders talked about a plan for another airport 20 years from now, but they said now is the time to plan and that there are possibilities in the northeast.

The noise and congestion of Atlanta's airport are far removed from the mostly empty runways of Barrow County's airport, but that could one day change if it were to become Atlanta's second major airport.

"It's time to think about how do we compliment that marvelous airport with some additional capacity," said former Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner, Wayne Shackelford.

With eyes toward the future, a group of northeast Georgia county and city leaders gathered in Athens Thursday night and gauged interest in reviving a long-dormant state commission. The Northeast Georgia Surface and Air Transportation Commission was established 18 years ago to study where to place a second commercial airport in northeast Georgia.

"The FAA has said Atlanta should be looking 20 years down the road, because aviation planning comes slowly," said Shackelford.

Leaders said if a second regional airport is to become a reality, it would likely be through the expansion of an existing facility. Among the possibilities, the airport in Barrow County or in Athens, where there is already limited commercial service.

Hartsfield-Jackson's general manager said there were other options.

"This is very complex and there are many factors to be considered before you move ahead," said Ben DeCosta, Hartsfield-Jackson's general manager.

No matter where a second airport might be proposed, it is likely that it would face stiff opposition.

Melissa Day has lived her whole life just yards away from Barrow County's runways and she said she didn't want to sell her home for expansion or listen to commercial jets screaming overhead.

"I don't think I want it here. I'd rather it be somewhere else. This is our road, we don't it to change," said Day.

Thursday night's meeting was an attempt to gauge interest in the airport proposal form the county and city governments in the area and no actual votes were taken.