Wed, Sep 06, 2006
Proponents Push "Triple Bottom Line"
A spirited debate is raging over the
future of the Lake Tahoe Airport (KTVL)... drowning out even the
ringing of slot machines in nearby Reno, NV.
At the heart of the conversation is whether the land the
facility sits upon is worth more as an airport... or, perhaps, as
something else. Alas, that is an all-too-common argument when
dealing with community airports... and Lake Tahoe is certainly no
different.
The Tahoe Daily Tribune reports airport proponents say it is the
perfect test-case for the so-called "triple bottom line" -- as
expanding the single-runway airport could reduce ground traffic in
the area... bring in more tourism dollars... and provide a staging
ground for firefighters and rescue personnel in the valley.
But The League to Save Lake Tahoe disagrees with all three
points... saying a larger airport would force the community to put
up with noise annoyance on the taxpayers' dime. And then there's
the question of the environmental impact on the Upper Truckee river
if the current runway is expanded.
"They can start by creating a first-class general aviation
airport that can serve the needs of the community," said John
Singlaub, the head of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. "But
let's also take advantage of re-creating the first-class fly
fishing river that the Upper Truckee River was before they built
the airport."
Opponents of a larger airport also say there's little need for a
second major airport in the area... especially as Lake Tahoe
Airport is about 45 minutes away from the casinos in Reno, roughly
the same distance as Reno/Tahoe International.
That's all well and good for today, airport supporters say...
but with over 20 million people expected to move to the area in the
next 20 years, a bigger airport will be needed anyway... so it
might as well be now.
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