Airport Expansion in Philadelphia
In his comments to the Federal Aviation Administration this week, U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, called a proposed Capacity Enhancement Plan at Philadelphia International Airport “a poorly planned transportation project and a waste of taxpayer funds.”
There are two alternatives for the CEP, with projected costs of $5.2 billion and $5.4 billion, according to a draft environmental impact statement. One alternative would add a new runway.
The aim is to reduce delays, but the CEP would also displace at least 72 residences and 3,300 jobs from Tinicum, including the relocation of a UPS facility, all of which would decrease the tax base for the township and the Interboro School District.
County Solicitor John McBlain also drafted the county’s comments to the FAA for the record. He said the county criticized the authority’s analysis of things like air quality and noise impacts, though it was most concerned about the loss of homes and businesses...
-We have an inevitable difficulty with the expansion of airports. Quite simply, we all love to have the airport reasonably close to the community.
However, if close to the urban base, any expansion necessarily results in huge losses of jobs and\or residents.
