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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationsouthwest, west, southeast, and east; commercial and industrial development along Post Road and AirportRoad; and industrial development along Industrial Drive.The Airport also is accessible via Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) and the Massachusetts BayTransportation Authority (MBTA) bus lines and the new InterLink facility, formerly known as the IntermodalStation, which opened on October 27, 2010. InterLink offers multiple transportation functions, including: RIPTAbus service; MBTA commuter train service traveling between Warwick, Providence, and Boston; a consolidatedcar rental facility, and parking (for commuter rail service only); and a direct pedestrian link to the Airportterminal. The rail platform is integrated with a consolidated rental car facility that houses airport rental caroperations. The six-level parking garage includes approximately 640 spaces for short-term rail commuterparking and an equivalent of approximately 2,500 spaces for rental car operators. Bus pulloffs for RIPTAIntercity bus Route #8 are provided on Jefferson Boulevard. The planned Warwick Station RedevelopmentDistrict (WSRD), which surrounds the InterLink, includes approximately 1.5 million gross square feet consistingof approximately 640,000 square feet of office uses, 640,000 square feet of hotel/conference uses, and 220,000square feet of convenience retail/entertainment uses, subject to City approval. 9The Airport has two runways: the primary runway, Runway 5-23 (7,166 feet), and the secondary runway,Runway 16-34 (6,081 feet) (Figure 1-3). T.F. Green’s 352,000 square foot passenger terminal building contains theticketing, baggage claim, and surface transportation areas; security services; Federal Inspection Services;concessions area; two concourses with passenger hold rooms; 22 commercial air service gates with 16 jetbridges; and RIAC’s administrative offices (Figure 1-4). The existing terminal facility provides approximately16,000 square feet of passenger processing and support space per aircraft gate position. These facilities includeall areas required to process the movement of commercial airline passengers and their baggage as well asproviding convenience and comfort in terms of concessions, restrooms, and building mechanical systems. Inaddition to the terminal, airport facilities include hangars, a fuel farm, air cargo, ground service equipment(GSE) facilities, an aircraft rescue and fire fighting facility, three on-Airport parking garages (Garage A,Garage B, and Garage C) and two parking lots (Hourly Lot D and Long-Term Lot E) with a total capacity of8,422 spaces. All of these assets are located on State of Rhode Island property.1.3 T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program Background and HistoryIn recognizing the importance of protecting the environment, the U.S. Congress passed NEPA in 1969. NEPArequires federal agencies to analyze and consider alternatives to, and the environmental impacts of, majorfederal actions; to disclose and consider mitigation for significant impacts; and to provide interested partieswith an opportunity to participate in the environmental review process. FAA approval of changes to theT.F. Green Airport Layout Plan (ALP) 10 and subsequent federal funding through the Airport ImprovementProgram (AIP) are federal actions requiring compliance with NEPA. RIAC cannot undertake any new physicalimprovements until they are approved and depicted on an updated ALP. When selecting a preferred9 The Warwick Station Redevelopment District development program has been expanded from 1.1 million gross square feet (gsf) to 1.5 million gsf, accordingto the City of Warwick Planning Department (correspondence dated February 2011).10 An Airport Layout Plan is a planning document for airports and is required for all public airports that receive state or federal funding. It shows existingconditions, near-term and long-term airport development. The latest FAA-approved Airport Layout Plan for T.F. Green Airport is dated April 18, 2002.Chapter 1 – Introduction and Background 1-3 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH01_Introduction_JUL_2011.doc