To the Editor,

RIAC agenda for the upcoming meeting shows that the "rotary" is far from settled.  RIAC is extending its contract with CHA Consulting for the design of that rotary to the tune of $233,000.  I think that contract is half the cost of the entire EA (Environmental Assessment)  done by AECOM. 

When this design is completed, it needs to be added to the EA. Think of it - an amount half of the cost of the EA is being expended on the design of the rotary - and that rotary is not in the EA.

I urge the Mayor not to agree to the MOA (Memorandum of Understanding) until this rotary issue is settled. Rumor has it that RIAC will avoid the cost of the rotary -- which will be in the millions!!! - if the design is a quarter of a million.  The option being discussed at RIAC is to build a road parallel to Strawberry Field Road dumping the traffic from the proposed air freight facility to Post Road at the old cell phone lot. This creates big problems at the Post Road exit and entrance ramps to the Airport Connector.  New traffic study needed under the EA.

This is a big mess!

Richard Langseth

Warwick

Editor’s note: The “rotary” to which Mr. Langseth refers would be built on airport property with the purpose of having tractor trailer trucks and other vehicles going to and from the planned air cargo facility use the Airport Connector rather than Post Road or Main Avenue.