FAA OKs Southwest Airlines Expansion At MacArthur
By Víctor Manuel Ramos
Staff Writer
December 7, 2002
Noise, air, groundwater or traffic concerns shouldn't stop Southwest Airlines from adding gates and expanding its terminal at Long Island MacArthur Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration has ruled.
The FAA, which reviews airport projects, arrived on Thursday at a "finding of no significant impact” on the environmental study for Southwest's east concourse expansion and improvements, giving the green light to the project.
"The environmental assessment is the first step. It's up to the airport and the town now,” said Jim Peters, spokesman for the FAA's eastern region.
The decision is a setback for Islip residents who protested the plan and said they were already fed up with noise, air traffic and pollution from the Ronkonkoma airport, which is owned by the Town of Islip.
Deborah Slinkosky, president of the Committee for Enforcement of MacArthur Airport Controls, said the environmental assessment contained outdated noise data from a 1990 study. "It's unconscionable. ... The report they filed does not meet the needs of today's society,” Slinkosky said.
As proposed in FAA documents, the project -- whose cost has been estimated between $35 million to $40 million -- would entail two phases. With eight jet gates planned, Southwest Airlines eventually would be able to handle up to 32 more flights a day. The project's time frame was not released, but the FAA decision detailed other aspects of the plan.
First, the airline would clear about six acres of trees to build a two-level extension of the existing concourse, with four new jet loading gates added. It also would build waiting rooms, public areas, restrooms, security checkpoints as well as food and retail spaces. With the new terminal, the airline would need about 27,000 square yards of apron, or paved areas, while relocating a storage facility.
In the final phase, the existing four gates would be demolished and rebuilt, as well as the existing 8,900 square yards of apron. Seventeen acres of trees would be cleared to build parking for 2,000 vehicles, establish new access roads and create a new drainage recharge basin.
The overall expansion would give Southwest another 12,000 square feet of space and four additional aircraft gates, according to the FAA documents.
The Dallas-based airline helped boost MacArthur as an alternative to New York City airports since it entered the metro area's market in 1999. Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Linda Rutherford said she had not read the FAA's decision, but welcomed the news.
"Obviously, a finding of no significant impact that would allow construction to go forward is something that we are thrilled about,” Rutherford said.
Town Supervisor Peter McGowan declined comment through spokeswoman Patricia Pasciutti, because the town had yet to receive the FAA's decision. Town attorney Vincent Messina Jr. said, following FAA approval, Southwest would just need to comply with building and airport codes.
"The project does not need town board approval,” Messina said. "It's a regular building permit process.”
Despite the approval, the FAA concluded that the expansion would be subject to "continued close coordination” between its program offices and the town.
Copyright © 2002, Newsday, Inc.
By Víctor Manuel Ramos
Staff Writer
December 7, 2002
Noise, air, groundwater or traffic concerns shouldn't stop Southwest Airlines from adding gates and expanding its terminal at Long Island MacArthur Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration has ruled.
The FAA, which reviews airport projects, arrived on Thursday at a "finding of no significant impact” on the environmental study for Southwest's east concourse expansion and improvements, giving the green light to the project.
"The environmental assessment is the first step. It's up to the airport and the town now,” said Jim Peters, spokesman for the FAA's eastern region.
The decision is a setback for Islip residents who protested the plan and said they were already fed up with noise, air traffic and pollution from the Ronkonkoma airport, which is owned by the Town of Islip.
Deborah Slinkosky, president of the Committee for Enforcement of MacArthur Airport Controls, said the environmental assessment contained outdated noise data from a 1990 study. "It's unconscionable. ... The report they filed does not meet the needs of today's society,” Slinkosky said.
As proposed in FAA documents, the project -- whose cost has been estimated between $35 million to $40 million -- would entail two phases. With eight jet gates planned, Southwest Airlines eventually would be able to handle up to 32 more flights a day. The project's time frame was not released, but the FAA decision detailed other aspects of the plan.
First, the airline would clear about six acres of trees to build a two-level extension of the existing concourse, with four new jet loading gates added. It also would build waiting rooms, public areas, restrooms, security checkpoints as well as food and retail spaces. With the new terminal, the airline would need about 27,000 square yards of apron, or paved areas, while relocating a storage facility.
In the final phase, the existing four gates would be demolished and rebuilt, as well as the existing 8,900 square yards of apron. Seventeen acres of trees would be cleared to build parking for 2,000 vehicles, establish new access roads and create a new drainage recharge basin.
The overall expansion would give Southwest another 12,000 square feet of space and four additional aircraft gates, according to the FAA documents.
The Dallas-based airline helped boost MacArthur as an alternative to New York City airports since it entered the metro area's market in 1999. Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Linda Rutherford said she had not read the FAA's decision, but welcomed the news.
"Obviously, a finding of no significant impact that would allow construction to go forward is something that we are thrilled about,” Rutherford said.
Town Supervisor Peter McGowan declined comment through spokeswoman Patricia Pasciutti, because the town had yet to receive the FAA's decision. Town attorney Vincent Messina Jr. said, following FAA approval, Southwest would just need to comply with building and airport codes.
"The project does not need town board approval,” Messina said. "It's a regular building permit process.”
Despite the approval, the FAA concluded that the expansion would be subject to "continued close coordination” between its program offices and the town.
Copyright © 2002, Newsday, Inc.
