Cites Threat of Rising Sea Levels By 2050

The Regional Plan Association, which focuses on the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan areas, has released a report on the region's airport that includes a recommendation for the eventual closing of Teterboro Airport.

RPA’s new report calls for upgrades to the regions airports totaling $50.8 billion over the next 30-40 years. It also says that officials should plan for eventual phasing out of Teterboro Airport, which the report says is is likely to be partially flooded at one foot of sea level rise (predicted by 2050) and fully flooded at three feet of sea level rise (predicted to by the end of the century or sooner), and reinforcing efforts to protect the other airports from both sea level rise and storm surge.

"Newark International Airport is already a major driver of Newark's exponential growth in economic development and jobs. The airport's success has created the need for a serious makeover to make it more convenient, user-friendly and accessible. The Regional Plan Association’s proposals for better transit connections, increased capacity and preparations for climate change reinforce the City of Newark's efforts to create an airport second to none," said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka.

“Our region’s economy is thriving, and air passenger travel is booming. But all three of our major airports suffer from some of the worst delays in the nation and traffic getting to and from our airports. We need to invest to build a modern airport system for our growing region. This includes expanding runway capacity, providing transit connections, and continuing to improve the customer experience,” said Tom Wright, president of the Regional Plan Association.

“New York’s business community shares RPA’s assessment of the need for additional investment in expansion and upgrading of our regional airports, as spelled out in this report. Connectivity to the global economy is critical to the city’s future economic growth, which requires increased airport capacity and better airport access,” said Kathryn Wylde, president & CEO of the Partnership for New York City.

The report was developed as part of RPA’s Fourth Regional Plan, its long-term vision for the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan area.

(Source: Regional Plan Association news release)

FMI: Full report