Flying into Turbulence: The Raleigh-Durham Airport Expansion Controversy

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Pattison, Charles
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of City and Regional Planning

Abstract

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority (RDUAA) is in the process of expanding its facilities to accommodate current and projected air carrier operations. Five alternative plans have been drawn up by consultants, only one of which is seen as sufficient by the Airport Authority. This alternative, known as Plan B, would send aircraft directly over Umstead Park and a considerable number of homes and businesses. For this reason, Plan B is opposed by many area residents. Strenuous arguments for and against the various alternatives have come from all sides, yet the debate seems bogged down because of a failure to reach a consensus on area needs and desires and a general lack of information on the costs and benefits of the various plans. Is expansion necessary in the first place or is this merely an attempt on the part of RDUAA to keep pace with competing facilities in Greensboro and Charlotte? Is Plan B clearly superior to the other alternatives? The most significant conclusion is that no one has presented the detailed information necessary to make an intelligent choice between these plans. However, in-depth research suggests that an alternative other than Plan B offers a more modest but totally adequate solution. This article will briefly review the struggle over expansion of Raleigh-Durham Airport and follow with a detailed account of the benefits and drawbacks of each plan as seen by the author.

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