Nov. 6--With the number of passengers at Metro Airport expected to grow 67% within the next 20 years, the Wayne County Airport Authority says it needs a new runway, light-rail system and expanded terminals to handle the increased traffic.
Officials from the airport authority outlined the projected long-range development plan during a meeting with the Free Press last week.
The wish list, to be presented to the authority's board in January, is the result of discussions with residents, community leaders and airlines.
"The airport continues to grow," said authority CEO Lester Robinson. "We have choices. To build or not to build."
The authority is basing its plans on projections that the number of passengers using Metro will grow from almost 36 million in 2006 to roughly 60 million in about 20 years. That would put Metro in the same size range as today's Los Angeles International Airport.
The new runway is planned for the airport's eastern boundaries and the light-rail system would connect the McNamara Terminal with the new North Terminal, which is to open in fall 2008. The rail system would also connect the terminals with new rental car facilities.
Officials also say the plan calls for a new cargo facility, which could strengthen the airport's operations in that area.
The projects are expected to cost more than $1 billion.
While officials say the additions will help the airport deal with growth, the plan has faced opposition from area leaders and -- Northwest.
Metro Airport's largest carrier says some components of the plan -- particularly the rail system -- are a waste of money.
"We don't believe there is ridership for it," said Andrea Fischer Newman, Northwest's vice president of government affairs. "Money raised is better used for runways, taxiways or terminals, which benefit the largest number of passengers."
Northwest is opposed to paying for projects using passenger facility charges, or PFCs. The airport charges passengers $4.50 per ticket.
PFCs are used for airport infrastructure. The airport authority would like PFCs to be raised to $7 per ticket.
Airlines universally oppose raising PFCs because they raise ticket prices and hurt the bottom line, Newman said last week.
"It makes a difference as to whether a customer buys a ticket," she said.
Northwest prefers that fixes are paid for with general airport revenue bonds, which are paid for by all users of the airport, as opposed to just airlines.
"No one has given any scrutiny to this project," she said of the light-rail system.
The long-range development plan also calls for moving a rental-car facility to the airport's northern boundaries from the south. Northwest also opposes this move.
"There's nothing wrong with the current facility," she said. "It's a waste of money."
Romulus economic development director Tim Keyes said he's generally in favor of the plan except for the proposed new runway, which would be the airport's seventh.
A new runway would displace 805 residential properties valued at more than $59 million, and about 2,415 people, Keyes said. It would also hamper emergency response services, displace 11 industrial properties valued at $6 million and 10 commercial properties valued at $26 million. Such a project would also force the closing of a school, a park and force the closing or reconstruction of Eureka, Middlebelt and Northline roads, he said.
Airport officials say they are offering the best plan possible, Robinson said, adding that revisions are still possible.
The next public workshop is 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Metropolitan Hotel in Romulus.
Contact MARGARITA BAUZA at 313-222-6823 or [email protected]
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