Projo Biz Blog

The Federal Aviation Administration has rejected the city's request that a local office of the agency be opened on a temporary basis so residents can get answers to questions they may have about the proposed runway expansion at T.F. Green airport.

In a letter sent last week to Mayor Scott Avedisian, the FAA said it did not want to create another "layer of expense and bureaucracy."

And La Verne F. Reid, manager of the airports division for the New England region of the FAA, said the agency is already in "constant contact" with people who would be affected by the expansion project.

Avedisian recently requested the satellite FAA office after the agency's city-wide June meeting intended to inform residents, resulted in widespread confusion as there was no presentation and the roughly 400 people in attendance were left to thread through the crowd to find the appropriate officials they needed to speak to.

Reid said that FAA will continue to meet with residents in small groups and she advised that people looking for information visit the website they have dedicated to the project. www.vhb.com/pvd/eis.

The proposal to extend the main runway at Green from about 7,100 feet to 8,700 feet in a southerly direction is currently under review by the FAA which has final approval on the project.

Avedisian said he is disappointed by Reid's refusal and that her actions are contrary to recent meetings with him during which she indicated a willingness to work with the city and its residents. "I don't see how saying "no" to us consistently is a better dialogue," he said.

 Tags  T.F. Green Warwick RI

---