WHEREAS,
The
Philadelphia International Airport Capacity Enhancement Program
(CEP) is a proposed airfield redevelopment plan designed to address growing volume and provide substantial relief from delays at Philadelphia International Airport in the future; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia has one of the most heavily travelled airspaces in the nation with the Philadelphia International Airport having processed 472,688 takeoffs and landings and approximately 30 million passengers in 2009; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia International Airport currently
experiences recurring delays due to the growing volume of traffic,
and this trend is expected to continue as the number of passengers grows to a projected 60 million by 2030; and
WHEREAS,
The CEP is designed to accommodate current and future airport capacity demand in the Philadelphia area during all weather conditions as well as reduce total delays, the cost of delays, and Philadelphia's contribution to overall delays in the National Aviation System; and
WHEREAS, Expansion of the airport is expected to increase efficiency and provide travelers with services and amenities provided by other major airports in America; and
WHEREAS, The costs avoided from a reduction in delays under the CEP are projected to total approximately $468 million by 2025; and
WHEREAS, Expansion could create roughly 44,700 construction jobs over 12 years and another 52,000 ancillary jobs throughout the region; and
WHEREAS, The CEP also has important environmental implications for the surrounding areas that should be examined; and
WHEREAS, The status of the CEP is of great importance to the City of Philadelphia because it implicates a number of vital issues, including but not limited to transportation, economic development, employment, environmental preservation, and land use; now therefore,
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That City Council's Joint Committees on Transportation & Public Utilities and Legislative Oversight are hereby authorized to hold hearings to investigate the status of the Philadelphia International Airport Capacity Enhancement Program.
End