The I-95/PBIA Interconnect The I-95/PBIA Interconnect and the Expansion of and the Expansion of Palm Beach International Palm Beach International AirportAirport

A threat to the quality of l i fe ofA threat to the quality of l i fe ofresidents of the Town of Palm residents of the Town of Palm BeachBeach

by Harrison M. Robertson, Jr.Chairman of the Board

Conservation Alliance of Palm Beach County, Inc.

P.O. Box 2020

Palm Beach, Florida 33480The Conservation All iance of Palm Beach County, Inc. is a 501(C) 3 Not for Prof it Corporat ion

Who are we?Who are we?

The Conservation All iance of Palm Beach County, Inc.

A newly formed 501(c)3 Florida Corporationwhose purposes include protecting and

promotingthe quality of l i fe in Palm Beach County.

Who are You?Who are You?

Residents of the Town of Palm Beachand property owners who reside directly in the fl ight path of the existing main runway of Palm BeachInternational Airport

Why are You here?Why are You here?

Because PBIA’s planned expansion would greatly increase the number of f l ights over your property (including night fl ights of cargo planes)

What is PBIA What is PBIA now?now?

An small to midsize airport with about An small to midsize airport with about 160 commercial flights daily plus160 commercial flights daily plus a modest cargo operationa modest cargo operation

What doesWhat doesPBIA propose?PBIA propose?

A greatly enlarged airport with 470 f l ights daily plusdouble the nightime cargo operations, including jumbo jets to and from the west coast, Europe and South America.

How wil l the airport How wil l the airport be enlarged?be enlarged?

• By extending the major runway by 25% By extending the major runway by 25%

• By adding one or more parallel runways By adding one or more parallel runways and a dozen or more additional and a dozen or more additional boarding gatesboarding gates

• By adding a new cargo terminalBy adding a new cargo terminal

• By adding a new interchange or “f ly-By adding a new interchange or “f ly-over” which directly connects PBIA with over” which directly connects PBIA with I-95 to serve the airport exclusivelyI-95 to serve the airport exclusively

Why is the proposed Why is the proposed PBIA/I-95 PBIA/I-95 Direct Interconnect Direct Interconnect unnecessary?unnecessary?

• Because it is based on erroneous Because it is based on erroneous growth projections of increased air growth projections of increased air traff ic at the airport and PBIA has traff ic at the airport and PBIA has never met i ts growth forecasts in never met i ts growth forecasts in the pastthe past

Total Passenger Enplanements, 1987-1999Actual v. Projected

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,0001987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Year

En

pla

ne

me

nts

Projected (6.95 %Compounded)

Actual TotalPassengerEnplanement (3.21% Compounded)

P.B. Airport Traff ic P.B. Airport Traff ic DownDown•PBIA passenger traffic fell 2.7% in 1999

•Ft. Lauderdale traffic rose 12.3%

Modifications to the Interconnect and Modifications to the Interconnect and related projects wil l result in major related projects wil l result in major Noise, Safety and Environmental Noise, Safety and Environmental ImpactsImpacts

• A thorough A thorough Environmental Impact Environmental Impact StatementStatement was never done for the original was never done for the original Interconnect project in 1995.Interconnect project in 1995.

• The project has been modified, redesigned The project has been modified, redesigned and “bundled” together with other road and “bundled” together with other road projects.projects.

• An An Environmental Impact StatementEnvironmental Impact Statement should should be ordered now which ful ly evaluates the be ordered now which ful ly evaluates the impacts of both the original and redesigned impacts of both the original and redesigned projects. projects.

Costs have soaredCosts have soared• The estimated cost of the PBIA/I-95 The estimated cost of the PBIA/I-95

Interconnect has gone from $59 million to Interconnect has gone from $59 million to $167 million with about $130 million $167 million with about $130 million presently appropriated and available to pay presently appropriated and available to pay for the project.for the project.

• All these millions are taxpayers’ monies that All these millions are taxpayers’ monies that will be wasted if the Interconnect is built.will be wasted if the Interconnect is built.

• If the project is not built, these funds can be If the project is not built, these funds can be shifted to pay for other needed federally-shifted to pay for other needed federally-funded highway projects in our state, such funded highway projects in our state, such as widening I-95.as widening I-95.

No InterconnectNo InterconnectNo Airport Expansion No Airport Expansion =

No Airport Expansion

Less Noise Impacts=

No Airport Expansion = Less Air Traffic Safety

and Environmental Impacts

Action is needed Action is needed now!now!• We must demand an Environmental We must demand an Environmental

Impact Statement Impact Statement NOW!NOW! for the proposed for the proposed PBIA/I-95 Interconnect and related road PBIA/I-95 Interconnect and related road projectsprojects..

• If the appropriate agencies refuse, legal If the appropriate agencies refuse, legal action must be taken action must be taken IMMEDIATELY!IMMEDIATELY! to to obtain a court order requiring that an obtain a court order requiring that an Environmental Impact Statement be Environmental Impact Statement be completed before construction completed before construction commences in the Summer of 2000.commences in the Summer of 2000.

Your f inancial support is Your f inancial support is needed!needed!• It is in your best interest to contribute a It is in your best interest to contribute a

tax-deductible contribution to the tax-deductible contribution to the Conservation All iance of Palm Beach Conservation All iance of Palm Beach County, Inc. to pay the legal expenses County, Inc. to pay the legal expenses necessary to accomplish such action necessary to accomplish such action and protect the quality of l i fe of and protect the quality of l i fe of residents of the Town of Palm Beach.residents of the Town of Palm Beach.

The Conservation All iance of Palm Beach County, Inc. is a 501(C) 3 Not for Profi t Corporation

?

•160 flights daily or 470 flights daily?

?•Daytime flights or nightime cargo operations?

•Lear jets or jumbo jets and cargo jets?

•An aircraft disaster from a birdstrike?

•Decreasing property values?

•A lower quality of life?

Law Office of Law Office of Michael W. MorellMichael W. Morell

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