|
What's Happening with the EIS?
The Federal Aviation Administration has evaluated the environmental impacts of the proposed Alternatives (No-Action Alternative, Alternative B1, Alternative B2, and Alternative B4) and will continue working with the City of Warwick and the Inter-Agency/Tribal Coordination Group to assess the environmental and community impacts. The EIS Team assessed feasibility, constructability, and environmental impacts of the Alternative B1 and B2 impacts in 2008 and determined that an additional Alternative (B4) should be developed to:
- Minimize impacts to the residential communities and businesses of the Airport,
- Reduce mandatory land acquisition for construction,
- Avoid impacts to natural resources north of the Airport, and
- Reduce construction costs.
Alternative B4, which incorporates all program elements, would extend the main runway (Runway 5 23) south for a total of 8,700 feet and shift Runway 16 34 north approximately 100 feet to accommodate safety improvements. These runway alignments would minimize impacts to businesses and natural resources. The Runway 16 34 safety improvements would require a partial relocation of Airport Road at the intersection of Post Road and Airport Road. Alternative B4 would not require a full relocation of Airport Road, but Main Avenue would be shifted to the south at the Runway 5 End. More detail to follow.
The FAA is preparing for agency and public meetings that will be held this June to discuss the environmental findings and get input from the community and environmental agencies. The preferred alternative has not yet been selected, but will be determined in the coming months. (Last updated: 04/10/2009)
The T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program
T.F. Green Airport (the Airport) in Warwick, Rhode Island is the primary commercial service airport serving the State of Rhode Island and an area that stretches into southeastern Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut. In 2004 the Airport served over 5.5 million air passengers; an updated passenger forecast indicates that this demand level will continue to grow and by 2020 is anticipated to almost double to 8.9 million annual passengers. The Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) is proposing the T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program to address existing facility needs and projected demand at the Airport. The FAA is in the process of preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which conducts an independent environmental review of the Improvement Program and its alternatives to understand effects on the environment.
Project Contact
For additional information contact:
Richard Doucette, Environmental Program Manager
Federal Aviation Administration
New England Region
12 New England Executive Park
Burlington, MA 01803
 richard.doucette@faa.gov
|
