"Letter: Feds, airlines take dim view of proposed Boston revenue diversion"

Saturday, June 4, 2012

Letter to the Editor
US government, airlines would view diversion of Logan revenue as theft
The Boston (MA) Globe


I was surprised to read Fred Salvucci's May 29 op-ed "Massport should help
solve T mess" because, as a transportation expert and former member of the
board of the Massachusetts Port Authority, Salvucci should be aware that
federal law strictly regulates the use of airport revenue, including airport
parking garage receipts. 

As president of Airports Council International-North America, I am seeing an
increasing number of local governments trying to use revenue from airports
to fund worthy civic projects, such as more police, or, in this case, public
transportation. The federal government and the airlines take a dim view of
airport operators - generally cities, counties, or authorities - using any
money generated on the airport for anything other than the capital or
operating costs of the airport, the local airport system, or other local
facilities that are owned or operated by the airport owner and are directly
and substantially related to the air transportation of passengers or
property.
 
For Massport to do what Salvucci suggests not only could violate federal law
but could risk future federal funding. The federal government and the
airline industry would view the use of Logan's parking revenue to fund the
debt of the Boston area's public transit system as theft. 

Greg Principato 

Washington

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