Managing Public Expectations

Transcription

1 Managing Public Expectations War stories at the BNIA Mark Clark - Sr. Aviation Planner Niagara Frontier Transportation Auth. BUF & IAG Michael D. Hotaling - Vice President C&S Engineers, Inc.

2 The War stories of BNIA That was then War Story #1 This is now War Story #2 And how we deal with it!

3 History of BNIA o 1926 Buffalo Niagara International Airport was first created o 1927 Passenger service began between Buffalo and Cleveland o 1940 Curtis Aeroplane built 1.5 million sf. P-40 production facility o 1955 Airport expansion, tripled the square footage to a total of 11 gates o In 1956, the Niagara Frontier Port Authority, a public body created by the New York State legislature, acquired the airport from the City of Buffalo. o November 3, 1997 A new 15-gate, $ 56 million terminal o Since its opening, the BNIA terminal has expanded and increased the total number of gates from 15 to 27.

4 1926 BNIA was born and so was War Story # created in 200 acres of farmland 1926 postcard Rendition of the future

5 Amelia Earnhardt landed in Buffalo in the early 1930 s

6 Then the war was over HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN! Not quite

7 We went from this! Between , when production of the P-40 ceased, 13,738 had been built, all at main production facilities at Buffalo, NY The Curtiss-Wright Aeroplane Company, which moved to Buffalo in 1914, by the mid-1920s employs over two thousand people producing over 150 planes a year, into the largest plane manufacturing company in the world. Buffalo has quickly become the center of the nation's airplane industry. The Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company became the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world during World War I, employing 18,000 at Buffalo

8 To this!

9 From this - to this

10 From this - to this At the close of World War II, the airport's airfield facilities were badly deteriorated due to heavy wartime use. Numerous airfield and roadway/parking improvements were made in the late 1940s/early 1950s

11 So now we start War story #2 We went from this powerful symbol Rosie the Riveter recruited two million women into the workforce to support the war economy To this powerful symbol Rosie the Radical Recruiting Men, Women and Children to combat airport expansion, noise and pollution

12 The BNIA Master Plan the start of a different style war

13 Expansion and success breeds what? Good News We have community support Bad News Not easy keeping community support LL Lessons Learned BMP Generate our own BMP s

14 How did we get community support for our Master Plan? Good News - Bad News We voluntarily generated a Part 150 Study to be a good neighbor and got the community involved News Flash NFTA forms a new Community Advisory Committee for the Airport Noise Study and taps a local Councilman to be the Chairman LL The road to hell IS paved with best intentions BMP Trust no one

15 Public consensus building through the CAC Advisory Committee Meetings Stakeholder Interviews Consensus Building for NCP Public Hearing Public workshop LL Involve to the public as often as possible but beware of empowering them BMP Listen to the public as often as possible

16 Development of the NCP Noise Compatibility Program 2008 Recommended Contours Approximately 1,240 homes for mitigation NCP developed into a 10 year program at $60+ million FAA Approved the Part 150 and NCP in 2005

17 Our Community Support well????? Good News NFTA is cheered by residents Quote from homeowner inside the 65DNL Finally the airport is doing something about the noise, we love what you re doing Thank You Bad News NFTA is jeered by residents Quote from his neighbor on the DNL line This is total Bull***t, NFTA screwed us again LL You will never make everyone happy so don t plan on it BMP Respect the publics opinion, even if they are unreasonable

18 Letter for CAC Chairman & Councilman Letter from Councilman to FAA July 26, 2007 The most strident complaint with the Town of C. involves apparent discrimination between houses, sometimes adjacent, on the same street that are claimed the experience the same overhead noise yet are excluded from the abatement program announced by the NFTA We believe that the 65DNL noise impact range was not properly mapped and must be extended to include all properties and affected streets We also assert that there is discrimination between properties and ownerships.

19 FAA Response to letter Letter from to FAA to Councilman August 28, 2007 FAA role in this process is to ensure the airports program is consistent with the laws governing this program Under Part 150.5(d) when FAA accepts noise contours we are not making a determination that a specific parcel lies with a particular contour. That responsibility rests with the sponsor. Our agency order governing eligibility of noise projects for federal funding (FAA Order C), does allow for funding for a reasonable number of otherwise ineligible parcels contiguous to the project area which is the 65DNL contours for the NFTA program. FAA determined that in September of 2005 that the noise exposure map contours submitted by the NFTA were acceptable and prepared consistent with FAA orders

20 Applying reasonableness you say? FAA Reasonableness (contiguous) Homes to mitigate outside Approved 65DNL 404 Town Councilman Reasonableness (idiocy) Homes to mitigate outside Approved 65DNL 3,072

21 At a closer look Square off this street? Inside the 65 DNL 65 DNL 70 DNL

22 How do we deal that with the public? NFTA Reasonableness (credible solution) Households outside Approved 65DNL 0 LL Public credibility is directly proportional to what is defensible BMP Stay the course Stay consistent Do what is defensible

23 Next up Hiring consultant for our NCP Good News - Bad News LL Make sure you hire experienced consultants as they will become the face of your airport BMP Due your due diligence when selecting a consultant and never underestimate the importance of getting strong public relations team

24 BUF Sound Insulation Program Manage homeowner expectations BMP Listen to individual concerns Provide clear, consistent answers Assist ineligible homeowners Be consistent in the approach LL BMP BMP LL

25 How Often Noise Effects Activities Pre-construction Survey

26 How Often Noise Effects Activities Post-construction Survey

27 Would You Recommend This to Others? Post-construction Survey

28 Next public challenge - our 5 year NEM update 2013 Noise Exposure Map Approved by FAA September 2011 Loss of over 200 homes for mitigation NCP into the 6 th year of the 10 year program at $36 million

29 Remember this Slide? BNIA letter to all 218 homeowners BNIA s 5yr NEM update Meet with all Local municipalities LL Hot line set up Continue to listen to the public as often as possible BMP Public Comment website Lend a sympathetic ear regardless of the complaints

30 The 218 homeowner honesty letters WHY? To keep Airport Credibility LL Honesty still is the best policy BMP Kill the rumors before its too late

31 Sample Letter from Homeowner out of 65 DNL C&S Companies Please be advised that airplanes are no longer allowed to violate the sovereignty of our airspace over and around our house Immediately cease and desist from violating our sovereignty

32 One of several Congressional letters A Letter was send to FAA headquarters by US Congressman Brian Higgins on behalf of a constituent Mr. Joseph Romano whom was no longer in the 65 DNL and thus was denied inclusion in the program 1 st C&S and then by the NFTA (me) The FAA response Letter to Mr. Higgins? after careful review of the NEM s.. BUF has determined that Mr. Romano located at. is outside the 65DNL. and is not eligible for mitigation. We have discussed this with BUF and their decision was not to mitigate outside of the 65 DNL, therefore, we suggest Mr. Romano contact Mr. Mark Clark at and request reconsideration

33 What does that lead to? A Balancing Act Balancing what is right for the program Balancing NFTA credibility Balancing FAA credibility We did and we survived! (barely) LL Wear your bullet proof vest and take all shots head on BMP Balance your political pressures but don t buckle under because it is defensible

34 2012 Sustainable Master Plan expectations Since 1998, BNIA has witnessed a 71% increase in the number of passengers New Covered Parking Ramp New Roadway System New Taxiways New Inbound Baggage System New ARFF building New Maintenance Facility New RON Area Expansion of Air Cargo Expansion of FBO Cost $407 million LL Keep the press informed and get those politicians on your side BMP Do what best for the community and its economy fly the best course

35 Remember this Slide? AGAIN Advisory Committee Meetings Stakeholder Interviews BNIA s Master Plan Local College Input Public Workshop LL Involve every stakeholder, politician, staff,news, community and airlines while making decisions BMP Keep them part of the process

36 Erie Community College Coordination BNIA Tour Sustainability Charrette

37 Public Reaction to our Master Plan? Your spending $407 million on the airport and your cutting our bus routes and raising our fares, you should fire your planner LL Understand that unintended collateral damage can go with every good deed BMP Never fire your Planner

38 They say history repeats itself We survived WW II By building all the P-40 s We earned public support for the 2002 Master Plan By proving we are doing the right thing for the community We earned public support for the 2008 Part 150 Study By keeping our promise to be good neighbors with our NCP We survived the NEM update By honesty, integrity and consistency We currently have public support for our 2012 Master Plan By allowing the our community to be involved in our plans

39 Our next challenge The PGL What the PGL might bring? WW III But a fight against whom? LL Be prepared to fight anyone on behalf of your community BMP To be determined