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.

FMI: www.laketahoeairport.com