Airport Near Bucks Co Gets FAA Approval For Expansion

NEW JERSEY — Trenton-Mercer Airport, located near Bucks County, was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a major expansion, which includes the design and construction of a new passenger terminal.

The expansion will see the airport, originally built in 1975, get a new parking garage and expanded terminal, allowing passengers to never step foot on the tarmac for travel.

"This is great news for Trenton-Mercer Airport and the many thousands of travelers who pass through our passenger facility," Hughes said in a statement. "We appreciate the FAA's diligence in its review of the Environmental Assessment for the proposed new airport terminal, and we're pleased that we have the go-ahead to advance this important project."

The FAA said that an increase in air traffic is inevitable after the expansion is complete, with a predicted 51% increase in flights from Mercer County predicted.

Apart from noise pollution, some are concerned that the construction could put local people at risk of side effects from PFAS, which were used at Trenton-Mercer for over a decade. The FAA has dismissed these concerns.

"The existing terminal at Trenton-Mercer Airport is about one-third the size it should be for the number of travelers currently using it," Hughes said. "As we emerge from the coronavirus crisis, we expect an increasing demand for leisure travel, and nationwide and at Trenton-Mercer, we are seeing airlines adding new flights and reviving old ones."

The potential noise pollution that will occur in Bucks County has been voiced by organizations Trenton Threatened Skies and Bucks Residents for Responsible Airport Management. The Trenton-based group penned a letter voicing their concerns.

"We are concerned about the effects that the Airport’s projects have on our community’s health, wellness, and environment," members of Trenton Threatened Skies said. "Trenton-Mercer Airport has failed to adequately assess the many potential environmental effects that its proposal and ambitions will have."