WHEREAS, The Federal Aviation Administration provides guidelines to airports developing a Master Plan and must approve the final Plan. According to the FAA, a Master Plan consists a comprehensive study of the airport that describes short-, medium-, and long-term plans for airport development; and
WHEREAS, The Master Plan process involves pre-planning, public involvement, environmental considerations, as well as an assessment of existing conditions, aviation forecasts, facility requirements, layout plans and a financial feasibility analysis; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has hired a consultant team to prepare a Master Plan and Environmental Study, which will include strategies and timelines for airport improvements over a span of 20 years; and
WHEREAS, According to PHL, the airport is anticipated to grow at least 3.8 percent in passenger volume and 4.6 percent in cargo volume per year. The Master Plan will provide a strategy for accommodating these increasing demands on the airport; and
WHEREAS, The Master Plan will also look at ways to move passengers more efficiently and easily through the terminals with a people-mover system, expanded security checkpoints, and improved baggage claim areas; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, the Master Plan will include an environmental study which will consider the environmental impacts of planned changes in both the short- and long-term; and
WHEREAS, PHL's Master Plan is an opportunity to improve upon the airport's layout, infrastructure, passenger experience, flight options, as well as expand the airports environmental commitment; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That authority be given to the Joint Committees on Legislative Oversight and Transportation and Public Utilities to hold public hearings on the status and current findings of the Philadelphia International Airport's Master Plan and Environmental Study.
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