The Future of Tweed Airport? Public Asked To Give Feedback

EAST HAVEN, CT - Two meetings that will help determine the future plans of Tweed New Haven Airport (Tweed) will be held in the coming days, one in East Haven and one in New Haven.

Over the years there has been competing interests in plans to expand the airport: proponents say it will help spur economic development in Greater New Haven; opponents worry what a bigger airport will do to the quality of life of surrounding neighborhoods.

In Gov. Ned Lamont’s $21 billion transportation proposal is a study that could lead to establishing a second major airport in Connecticut, either at Tweed or in Stratford.

The study, conducted in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration, is already underway. The study is expected to take six months to a year, administration officials said, and it could take years longer for an expansion to unfold.

Lamont has said it is crucial the state have an airport with expanded commercial flights serving the south-central region of Connecticut.

Now is your opportunity to weigh in on whether or if that expansion should be at Tweed.

Tweed, under its new executive director Sean Scanlon, is initiating an Airport Master Plan Update and has announced that it will have two public information meetings: Wednesday, December 11, 2019 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Nathan Hale School, 480 Townsend Avenue, New Haven and Thursday, December 12, 2019 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the East Haven Senior Center, 91 Taylor Avenue, East Haven.

These meetings will provide background information on the Airport Master Plan Update as well as allow the public to participate in the planning process.

The meetings will begin with a brief presentation summarizing major accomplishments since the last Master Plan Update, ongoing airport projects, Master Plan Update goals and objectives, process, schedule, and outline the project’s outreach program. Following the presentation, attendees can provide a comment and interface with the project team.

These public information meetings are a way for local residents, airport users, business owners, and any other interested parties to learn about and receive updates on the Tweed Airport Master Plan Update and potential subsequent efforts. This is a key opportunity to interact with the project team, as well as to provide input at the outset of the Master Plan Update.

The final products of the Master Plan Update project are the official planning documents for the airport: an Airport Master Plan Update and Airport Layout Plan, which guide the future development at the airport. The Master Plan Update will include the current and proposed layout, financial plans, schedules for planned work, the assessment of alternatives on technical, environmental, and economic grounds, and ultimately establishes a framework for the future of the airport.

Engagement with the community will be an important component of ensuring that the Master Plan Update is a transparent process. Tweed has also established Technical and Community Advisory Committees, comprised of a wide range of stakeholders, that will guide the Master Plan Update process.

For more information about the Master Plan Update, please contact Scanlon, also Guilford and Branford’s state representative, at 203-466-4880