A proposal to remove a restriction that prohibits lengthening the runway at Tweed-New Haven Airport is generating passionate input from both supporters and opponents of the idea.
The General Assembly’s Transportation Committee hosted a public hearing Monday at the state Capitol on Bill No. 7143, “An Act Concerning the Length of Runway 2-20 at Tweed-New Haven Airport.” Area residents, politicians and business leaders braved Monday morning’s snowstorm to make their opinions heard.
Supporters of the idea mostly cited a potential economic boost. Detractors have voiced concerns about noise, property rights, possible flooding, and the environment.
Currently, the runway can’t exceed 5,600 feet in length, and the proposal is to remove that restriction. Airport officials would like to make it longer to attract more commercial flights.
Michael Piscitelli, interim economic development administrator for the city of New Haven, presented a statement in support of the proposal.
“New Haven is home to a community of high-skill and mission-driven professionals, who collaborate with peers from around the world,” he said in a prepared statement. “We need to support them with viable air service, by upgrading the airfield in a timely fashion and in a manner that is respectful of Tweed’s neighbors.”
Piscitelli noted that air travel from the southern portion of the state is “time-intensive and inconvenient,” with more than 60 percent of air travelers from the region using alternative airports like Kennedy and LaGuardia in New York City.
“This is a remarkable missed opportunity for Connecticut and the reason we need Tweed as a ‘southern tier’ complement to Bradley,” he said.
Piscitelli indicated the city is continuing to work to address issues related to traffic, noise mitigation, soundproofing of homes, and tide gate improvements to reduce flooding in the Morris Cove area.
New Haven Mayor Toni N. Harp indicated in a statement that more responsive and varied flight options to and from Tweed would “spare travelers time-consuming and expensive trips to other airports, often as far away as New Jersey and Rhode Island.”
“It would be more efficient for businesses, more convenient for residents, and more environmentally friendly for all these travelers to remain in Connecticut for the first and last legs of their journey,” Harp added.
William Neale, vice president of Radiall USA Inc., a New Haven manufacturing company, asked committee members to support passage of the bill. Neale called the last few hours of travel to New Haven “inconvenient from anywhere.”
“It is our expectation that this change will open the door for new commercial service at Tweed with additional destinations and flights,” Neale said. “It is likely that New Haven area companies lose business because customers can’t fit it in during a busy week of traveling.”
Richard Jacob, associate vice president for federal and state relations at Yale University, is also a member of the board of Tweed Airport Authority. He said the bill would allow Tweed to begin the process of extending its runway to about 6,600 feet.
Jacob said Yale “enthusiastically” supports the proposal, and a longer runway would help create jobs.
“New Haven and Connecticut have assets that can drive growth: a creative and energetic workforce, outstanding colleges and universities and excellent quality of life,” Jacob said.
He asserted that companies which have left for larger cities such as Boston and New York have cited transportation as a factor.
“New Haven does not have the transportation networks to support the economy that we all want,” Jacob said.
Susan Campion, a Morris Cove resident, was among those who have submitted testimony in opposition to any change in legislation which would allow for a longer runway. Campion cited various concerns, such as potential impact on the health of area residents and the environment.
“Over the years, in public forums and hearings on Tweed Airport, affected residents have reported increased rates of asthma levels, respiratory illnesses and other ailments caused by air pollution related to Tweed Airport operations,” Campion told lawmakers. “Paving the runway safety areas will further damage the nearby wetlands and send more toxic storm water runoff into Long Island Sound.”
Campion favored improvements at Bradley Airport over Tweed.
“With the state’s budget issues, there is a limited amount of dollars for the support of infrastructure investments in its current airports,” she said. “Bradley Airport, as its premier hub, will clearly provide the greatest financial return on the state’s expenditures.”
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com
