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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation2Purpose and Need2.1 Purpose and Need OverviewAs the operator of T.F. Green Airport and five other state-owned airports in Rhode Island, RIAC continually plansfor the development of its facilities to meet aviation and passenger demand. RIAC’s regular planning activities,including the T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program, are consistent with its mission statement, which is toprovide safe, efficient, and convenient air transportation for the region, while providing economic opportunitybalanced with environmental stewardship sensitive to the community.Planning for the T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program began approximately ten years ago by RIAC undermuch different airline operating conditions and anticipated aviation demand scenarios. As a result, the proposedproject has been refined through the sponsor’s planning process and the FAA’s EIS process to account for changingmarket conditions and needs of the traveling public.T.F. Green Airport functions as a critical component within the Rhode Island, New England region, and nationalair transportation networks. T.F. Green Airport is the primary commercial passenger airport for Rhode Island,southeastern Massachusetts, and eastern Connecticut, and is one of three major airports serving the eastern NewEngland region along with Boston-Logan International Airport (Logan Airport) in Massachusetts, andManchester-Boston Regional Airport (Manchester Airport) in New Hampshire. Logan Airport functions as theprimary gateway in the New England region for international and domestic, long-haul 19 passengers, whileT.F. Green and Manchester Airports serve as regional airports. 20Many of the T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program plan elements are needed to enhance safety, or to enhancethe efficiency of the Airport due to overall aviation (aircraft operations and passenger) demand. However, the roleof T.F. Green Airport in the New England Regional Airport System plays a critical part in defining the need forsome of the proposed T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program plan elements. Within the eastern New Englandregion in particular, T.F. Green, Logan, and Manchester Airports provide different air services but have19 For the purposes of this FEIS, “long-haul” refers to U.S. West Coast and international (except eastern Canada) air service.20 For the purposes of this FEIS, “regional airports” refers to commercial service airports in New England other than Logan International Airport (consistent withthe New England Regional Airport System Plan, 2006).Chapter 2 – Purpose and Need 2-1 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH02_P&N_JUL_2011.doc