State General Assembly Must Also Give Approval

A runway extension at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport (KVHN) has been approved by the New Haven, CT Board of Alders which city leaders hope will lead to an increase in business at the airport.

Television station WTHN reports that a resolution approved Tuesday by the Board of Alders would allow the main runway at KVHN to be extended by 1,000 feet to 6,600 feet. Safety zones would be paved as part of the expansion.

A measure adopted in 1997 prohibited any airport expansion. If approved by the state legislature, this bill would repeal that act.

Passenger movements at the airport have fallen from about 130,000 in in the mid-90s to 40,000 in 2007, according to the report. The longer runway would allow more commercial flights in and out of KVHN, including destinations like Washington, D.C. and Florida.

Residents who spoke to the station for the report seemed generally in favor of the expansion, as long as it did not lead to an increase in noise. Elizabeth Mahan, who lives near the airport, said that the expansion could lead to more tourism for the region.

FMI: Original report