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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationGiven the additional flight operations associated with the Alternative B2, by 2025, a total of 873 jobs would becreated in the City of Warwick (an additional 76 jobs from 2020) and 1,967 throughout Rhode Island (anadditional 154 jobs from 2020), with the bulk being generated by new on-Airport spending.An additional component of the economic impact from Alternatives B2 and B4 is the taxable income and sales taxthat would be derived from new on-Airport business, visitor spending, and spin-off Airport-reliant businesses inthe City of Warwick. Overall, new airport-related activities associated with Alternative B2 are expected toannually generate over $2 million dollars in state taxes by 2020. The bulk of these revenues would be producedby new visitors to Rhode Island. Overall cumulative gains state-wide would reach an estimated $331.4 millionin personal taxable income and $850.2 million in taxable business revenues associated with Alternative B2.Business and Employment Impacts – 2020This section summarizes the direct impacts to businesses and employment due to commercial land acquisitionsfor construction and FAA-recommended RPZ clearing as well as indirect impacts to the community associatedwith Alternative B2. No businesses would be displaced under a Future Build VLAP because business uses arenot considered incompatible land uses with predicted noise levels.Table 5-53 summarizes the displaced businesses and jobs lost associated with commercial property acquisitions dueto mandatory construction.Based on anticipated mandatory acquisitions for construction, Alternative B2 would result in a loss of parcels thatinclude 38 businesses and 309 jobs. Thirty-two businesses would be displaced due to the shift in Runway 16 to thenorth, while an additional four businesses would be displaced by the Fully Relocated Airport Road.Alternative B2 would require the acquisition of Airport Plaza located at the intersection of Airport Road andPost Road due to construction of the Runway 16-34 Runway Safety Area enhancements.Table 5-53 also indicates the number of “most threatened” businesses and jobs, including personal taxable incomeand taxable business revenue impacts, although Alternative B2 is expected to generate limited warehousing andmanufacturing jobs five or more years after the parcels are taken. 343 Without immediate relocation or absorption,total direct losses in employment from these businesses would result in a total loss of 39 jobs, $1.5 million in wagesand $5.7 million in business revenues for Warwick. For Rhode Island, without immediate relocation or absorption,total direct losses in employment from these businesses would result in a total loss of 78 jobs, $3.9 million inwages, and $15.1 million in business sales. Parcels containing three firms and 96 jobs fall within the RPZ andwould be displaced on a voluntary basis. Acquisition of land within the RPZ is an FAA recommendation and isnot a required action for lands where people do not assemble. Therefore, RPZ-related property acquisition wouldbe subject to funding availability and the willingness of land owners to participate.343 Unlike the manufacturing/warehousing jobs created due to increased aviation activity, which are motivated to locate within Warwick specifically to be nearthe airport, businesses being displaced by an Alternative are not specifically motivated to relocate near the airport and will therefore be consideringlocations throughout the state or beyond, based on cost, availability and industry-specific operational considerations.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-90 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc