Pittsfield Airport Safety Project is Cleared for Takeoff
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The $25 million project to expand the airport's runways has been under fire from conservation advocates and some citizens. The DEP began hearings on the environmental impact in January.
"Following a thorough review of the project, I find that the project constitutes an overriding public interest because it will improve the existing Runway Safety Areas to reduce the risk of damage to airplanes, personal injury and loss of life in the event of an aircraft undershoot, overshoot, or excursion from the runway," wrote DEP Commissioner Laurie Burt in her decision. "I also find that the project design, as conditioned, represents the most reasonable alternative that achieves the project objective while minimizing and mitigating wetland resource impacts."
Mayor James Ruberto said he was relieved and grateful that the airport safety improvement project can now move to completion. Local business leaders have long stated the improvements will be a boon to the business in the region.
"The airport variance is a huge plus for the local economy," said Berkshire Chamber of Commerce President Michael Supranowicz in a statement.
"Pittsfield needs every competitive advantage to retain local businesses, and now this project which is so vital for economic development is cleared for takeoff," the mayor said. "I thank every one of the people who worked so hard on this project for so many years. At long last, we have an approved project which the state agrees balances the need for safety with sensitivity to the environment."
The project was proposed six years to bring the airport into Federal Aviation Administration safety compliance. The project would lengthen the main runway by 950 feet, bringing it nearly 6,000 feet, and create 1,000-foot safety zones at each end. The zones are currently 200 feet. A runway lighting system would also be installed.
According to Ruberto, Burt cited the city’s proposed measures to protect the environment through wetland replication, riverfront area restoration, flood storage, storm water management measures and erosion and sedimentation controls to be implemented during construction. Her approval also acknowledged the importance of the safety improvement project.
"The overriding public interest in this project is one of improving runway safety at the Pittsfield Municipal Airport in order to comply with Federal Aviation Administration standards pertaining to airport design,” Burt wrote. “The applicant, with support from the FAA, has demonstrated that runway safety area construction is a very high priority to ensure safety at the Pittsfield Municipal Airport."
The DEP approval caps a multi-year process of engineering analysis, environmental evaluations, and extensive public input. Burt cited the extensive array of possible alternatives that were evaluated and stated: "I find that no other reasonable alternative exists that would allow the project to proceed" in compliance with appropriate regulations."
State Rep. Christopher Speranzo, D-Pittsfield, praised the mayor's determination in seeing the project through.
"Mayor Ruberto pursued consensus when others saw stalemate and he should be commended for that," Speranzo said in a statement "He showed the kind of leadership needed to get big, difficult projects through a rigorous state and federal approval process."
In addition to the $10 million in federal assistance that the Pittsfield Airport has received from U.S. Rep. John W. Olver, the entire Berkshire legislative delegation worked together to secure the necessary funding for this now-approved project to proceed in the state Transportation Bond bill passed in 2008.
State Senator Benjamin B. Downing (D- Pittsfield) said the project represents an important breakthrough for the region. “The facility may be known as the Pittsfield Municipal Airport, but it truly services all of Berkshire County and beyond,” said Downing. “Moving this project forward to completion will bring economic benefits to Pittsfield and its neighboring communities."
