Planning for a busier airport, all within the current fence

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 6/27/19

By JOHN HOWELL Bigger planes, additions to the terminal, relocated and wider taxiways and another parking garage are all part of the plan for the future of Green Airport. But longer runways and the acquisition of additional homes were not on the agenda

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Planning for a busier airport, all within the current fence

Posted

Bigger planes, additions to the terminal, relocated and wider taxiways and another parking garage are all part of the plan for the future of Green Airport.

But longer runways and the acquisition of additional homes were not on the agenda as Rhode Island Airport Corp. consultants answered questions and welcomed input Tuesday at the first of two public workshops on the 20-year airport master plan.

It was a remarkably different scene and turnout from the days when former RIAC President and CEO Kevin Dillon held a public meeting – also at the Crowne Plaza – on what was then the proposed extension of the main runway by more than 1,000 feet to today’s 8,700 feet. At that time, the Crowne’s ballroom was packed and breakout sessions with airport planners were animated as homeowners discovered whether their property fell within the high-noise contour – meaning they were subject to acquisition – or not.

This master plan update, which RIAC needs to do to remain eligible for certain Federal Aviation Administration grants, is all about adjustments to accommodate anticipated changes in the airline industry and a forecast 3.2 percent annual growth in passenger traffic and 1.1 percent growth in operations.

All of the suggested options for such growth are within Green’s existing fences. Predictably, some of the airport’s more vigilant watchdogs – including Richard Langseth and Philip D’Erocle – were present for this week’s workshop, as were Ward 2 Councilman Jeremy Rix and Ward 8 Councilman Anthony Sinapi. Yet for most of the four-hour session, consultants from C&S Companies and RIAC personnel outnumbered the public.

The forecast is the key to the plan, but as Marc Champigny of C&S pointed out, the projections are just that. Should, for example, additional airlines choose to operate from the airport and aircraft operations and passenger traffic take off, then what was envisioned as possible expansion of the terminal in 15 years may need to be taken in five years. Conversely, if airport traffic took a tailspin, the plan for 15 years hence may never be needed.

Champigny said C&S would be putting costs to each of the options during July and August to give RIAC additional information on how it would want to proceed when the time comes. Part of the C&S assessment will also include what projects would be eligible for FAA funding, he said.

Of all the options under consideration, those involving the terminal appeared most elaborate – and, as a consequence, most costly.

“It’s all about peak numbers,” said Scott Tumolo of C&S. With drawings ranging from modest additions to the existing terminal to a new and larger building extending into the airfield, he explained the terminal needs to be able to handle security, baggage claim and the numbers of people at their projected maximums. Next, he said, is to provide RIAC with the alternatives to give the “best bang for the buck.”

Consultant Elaine Grayner offered a view on the aircraft using the field and how that in turn could impact taxiways. The predominately larger aircraft using Green today is the Boeing 757 or equivalent Airbus with about 180 passengers. She forecasts that will transition to more Boeing 767s – the airplane the Patriots have at Green – capable of carrying more than 200 passengers. The third step she forecast is the Boeing 787, which carries about 280 passengers and is capable of greater range than the others.

Bigger planes will require extended “shoulders” on some taxiways to prevent FOD, or foreign object damage, to engines. She also said the plan considers realignment of taxiways to improve efficiency and safety.

David Macedonio of WSP USA, which is working with C&S, outlined a couple of plans to address the condition that requires motorists on the departure level to circle the terminal for access to Post Road. Included in those plans is relocation of the cell phone waiting lot to within the traffic pattern and another parking garage in the short-term parking lot.

The planners also took a look at potential expansion and/or relocation of general aviation and cargo operations on the north side of the field and abutting Airport Road. Consultant Kim Farbend said what happens to those operations is largely driven by private companies.

The C&S team also solicited input on environmental impacts.

Rix questioned what can be done to ensure that aircraft operations are within the voluntary midnight to 6 a.m. curfew, noting that a constituent has called persistently about a 1:30 a.m. flight waking her. Christine Vitt of RIAC pointed out that the airport remains open to operations 24-7 and that the curfew is strictly voluntary.

It was mentioned that studies have shown that barriers, whether trees or a wall, can influence the amount of particulates from aircraft exhaust, and it was asked if those had been considered for Winslow Park playing fields. Vill said they hadn’t. She was not aware of the studies.

As for whether the projected increase in operations would mean adjustments in the noise contours that might make additional properties eligible for acquisition, Vitt said the contours would be updated after completion of the plan, but she cautioned: “I don’t want to send out false hopes [of home purchases] out there.”

She suspects in some instances, the contours will actually be constricted.

Comments

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  • MarkR

    The airport carried 1.5 million more passengers in 2005 and had almost 30% more landings and takeoffs at that time. Planning needs to be done, of course, but the increase in growth is probably off. A new airline in the works plan to use PVD at the level Southwest had in 2005, which is 25 more landings and take offs a day than now. It could also take the airport back to the 5.5-6.0 million passengers it had in 2005. Add that to other airlines adding service and PVD growth could again be 5-8% per year.

    Friday, June 28, 2019 Report this

  • MarkR

    The airport carried 1.5 million more passengers in 2005 and had almost 30% more landings and takeoffs at that time. Planning needs to be done, of course, but the increase in growth is probably off. A new airline in the works plan to use PVD at the level Southwest had in 2005, which is 25 more landings and take offs a day than now. It could also take the airport back to the 5.5-6.0 million passengers it had in 2005. Add that to other airlines adding service and PVD growth could again be 5-8% per year.

    Friday, June 28, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    Who wants more airplanes ? The noise level is so bad now.

    Let's get Rix and Sinapi (too progressives) to introduce a resolution condemning their big buddy VellaWilkinson for expanding the runways.

    Saturday, June 29, 2019 Report this

  • FASTFREDWARD4

    any bird feeders

    Sunday, June 30, 2019 Report this

  • KeepCalmandCarryOn

    This is a joke. Bigger planes more noise more pollution but higher taxes??? Post Rd is a literal graveyard. This is disgusting on multiple levels

    Sunday, June 30, 2019 Report this

  • Cat2222

    Let's face it, we don't have anything else going for us to bring in the money. Everything else is in the toilet. At least we should try and get $$$ from what is already there.

    Monday, July 1, 2019 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    gets rid of the airports now. and da choo choo station. and da highway. eye wants to see us back how we wuz back in da good old days of da 50s. the 1850s

    Monday, July 1, 2019 Report this

  • patientman

    I'm with Cat. The airport is a key cog in the economy. I love living 3.5 miles from the airport. Before I moved to Warwick I had a 40 mile drive. Now I text my wife when I land & she meets me on the curb in minutes. I would love more direct flights to Vegas. The noise is a trade off I'm glad to make.

    Monday, July 1, 2019 Report this

  • perky4175

    its funny how they didnt inform the public about the plane comming in for a possible crash landig the other night around 11

    Tuesday, July 2, 2019 Report this