While the proposal to expand the runway at Tweed-New Haven Airport never took off during this legislative session, members of the area business community this week vowed to continue fighting for it.
Lawmakers were considering H.B. 7143, “An Act Concerning the Length of Runway 2-20 at Tweed-New Haven Airport.” Currently, the runway can’t exceed 5,600 feet in length, and the proposal was to lift this restriction. Proponents claim doing so would attract more commercial flights.
“I’m surprised that something that should be an easy fix can’t get passed when the business community supports it,” said Garrett Sheehan, president and CEO of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, after the legislative session concluded. “We will continue to advocate for it. Legislators indicated they are willing to listen and find solutions, and we will take them up on that.”
According to Sheehan, the business community will continue over the summer to communicate with lawmakers. The Tweed Airport Coalition’s website will remain and continue to collect petition signatures from supporters of an expanded airport, he said.
“I’m confident this will come to pass because so many people think it is key to economic growth here,” Sheehan said. “While it didn’t get passed, we had more legislators talking about it.”
Proponents spoke to lawmakers at the Capitol in May for a Tweed Lobby Day and had what Sheehan described as a “positive dialogue.” In May alone, the business community sent over 500 emails to legislators, he added.
“I believe there is now a recognition that this issue has the full support of the business community, and we are not going away until there is a resolution,” Sheehan said. “We will get this done.”
The coalition’s website features 24 logos of companies and institutions which support the expanded airport, such as the chamber, Yale University, Yale New Haven Health, District, Holberton, Digital Surgeons, the City of New Haven, Omni Hotels & Resorts, and the Elm City Innovation Collaborative.
The coalition supports repealing the state statute that limits the runway length and paving 1,000 feet at the south end of the runway and about 400 feet at the north end. It also wants more destinations, including two to three outbound flights daily to Chicago, Washington, and Florida.
The proposal’s opponents have been vocal also. They have their own website. The opponents cite various concerns about any expansion, including noise, safety, property rights, property values, flooding and any potential negative impacts on the environment.
Lawmakers, meanwhile, acknowledged that the discussion will continue.
State Rep. Joe Zullo (R-99) of East Haven said the issue “seems to come up every year and I anticipate it will continue to come up.”
Zullo said that while he recognizes how many people feel expanding Tweed will be an economic driver, “I continue to have concerns about quality-of-life considerations for that neighborhood and the town of East Haven.”
“We need to have more constructive dialogue about how to alleviate noise, and about traffic and safety,” Zullo said. “I understand how the chamber and places like Yale all have a significant interest in an airport with greater service, but there is no way it can proceed without input from residents.”
