T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationSocial and Housing Impacts AssumptionsRefer to Section 5.1.4, Land Acquisition Assumptions, for assumptions on land acquisition for the Alternatives B2and B4. The following assumptions were used in the social and housing impact analysis:• Demographic impact estimates are based on the Study Area Baseline Condition and the 2000 Census. 335• All mandatory residential property acquisitions required for construction of the T.F. Green AirportImprovement Program would be completed prior to construction initiation and in accordance with theURA. Property values are based on the 2010 City of Warwick property assessment data (as explained aboveunder ‘Economic Impacts Assumptions’).• New and planned developments that are part of the No-Action Alternative would be built by 2020 (as listedin Table 5-5).• Current zoning as identified by the City of Warwick Zoning Ordinance would remain in place.• Residences participating in the voluntary land acquisition program for noise mitigation would not bedeveloped for higher uses, such as industrial or commercial development, under the Alternatives. 336• The state definition of “affordable” housing types per Rhode Island General Laws 42-128-8.1 and 45-55-3was used. 337Temporary Impacts from Short-Term Construction Activities MethodologyConstruction investment in the Improvement Program would provide temporary economic benefits to people inWarwick and Rhode Island. Construction spending would generate jobs for the duration of the T.F. GreenAirport Improvement Program, which in turn would create wages and would lead to purchases of constructionmaterials and related services (indirect impacts), as well as construction workers spending their wages onconsumer purchases in the city and state (induced impacts).Temporary construction jobs and wages are based on estimated construction budgets of Alternatives B2 and B4.The line items of spending presented in the construction budget 338 were translated into IMPLAN industriesbased on the closest match of activity and industry, including: building construction; road construction;maintenance and repair of roads; maintenance and repair of buildings; and other maintenance and repair. Theresulting multipliers for each industry (for Warwick and Rhode Island) were used in compiling the totaleconomic impacts.The direct construction jobs generated for Alternatives B2 and B4 were comprised of the actual on-siteemployees (which only included construction laborers and foremen) along with the estimated support jobsrequired for construction activity. These supporting jobs would include secretaries, engineers, and managers(among others). The direct income was measured by applying the income per worker for each industry to its335 Although some 2010 census data was released in March 2011, a sufficient level of census data for the FEIS analysis was not released prior to the filing ofthe FEIS.336 Refer to Section 5.4, Compatible Land Use, for a description of RIAC’s current Noise Land Re-Use Plan and the City of Warwick’s current zoning ofresidential areas eligible for noise mitigation.337 Affordable housing is defined by the Rhode Island General Law 42-128-8.1. Available on the internet at: www.rilin.state.ri.us/statutes/.338 Two key adjustments were made to the original budget. First, the 10% contingency was removed from the total budget amount. The amount spent onEMAS was also removed, as this proprietary product is purchased outside Rhode Island and has no impact on Warwick’s or Rhode Island’s economy.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-82 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc