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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationRunway Lighting and Navigational AidsThe Runway 16-34 safety enhancements are not expected to result in adverse lighting impacts to thecommunity. The Runway 16 End currently does not have approach lighting and would not have approachlighting in the future, so new lighting for a shift of the runway north 400 feet would be needed for runwaycenterline and edge lights (Figure 5-50, Table 5-129). The Runway 34 End and its lights would be shifted 400 feetfarther away from the surrounding community.Table 5-129No-Action Alternative and Alternatives B2 and B4: Distances and Heights of ApproachLighting (feet)No-Action Alternative B2 Alternative B4Lighting at Runway Ends 5 23 34 5 23 34 5 23 34 1Distance from NearestResidences 720 360 360 400 360 760 400 360 360Height (AGL) 47 59 36 59 54 71 52 59 36Source: Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.AGL Above ground level.Note: Runway 16 End currently does not have approach lighting.1 Because the Runway 34 is shifted farther north under Alternative B4, the FAA Technical Operations (TechOps) has determined that one approach light on theRunway 34 End may need to be higher than currently exists. The exact height will be determined when the design for the project is more advanced.Alternative B2 would move the approach lighting at the Runway 5 End 320 feet closer to the Greenwoodneighborhood than under the No-Action Alternative (Figure 5-50, Table 5-129). The proposed approach lightingwould be located well within the boundaries of the Airport and the RPZ. RIAC would purchase parcels withinthe RPZ through the VLAP. Therefore, there would be a buffer of at least 400 feet between the nearestresidences and the outermost approach light. Even without full participation in the VLAP for the RPZ, therewould be a required easement, providing a buffer of at least 200 feet on either side of the approach lightingcenterline as well as a 200-foot buffer from the end of approach lighting. 458At the Runway 23 End, the RPZ would provide an additional buffer, resulting in no change in distance from theoutermost approach light to the adjacent residential area when compared to the No-Action Alternative. 459 Thiswould result in the closest residences being 360 feet from the outermost approach light, the same distance as theNo-Action Alternative.Off-Airport RoadwaysRoadway lighting for the Partially Relocated Airport Road and Fully Relocated Airport Road will be designedfor the Preferred Alternative. These roads will be designed following Rhode Island Department ofTransportation and City of Warwick lighting requirements, as appropriate, and the lighting would be typical ofcommunity conditions.458 FAA Order 6850.2, Visual Guidance Lighting Systems, page 8, establishes a minimum buffer of 200 feet on either side of the approach lighting center lineand 200 feet from the end of the approach lighting. An easement of 2,600 feet in length and 400 feet in width from the end of the runway is required for anapproach lighting system.459 For the purposes of the analysis 100 percent participation in the voluntary acquisition of the RPZ is assumed.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-272 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc