The Raleigh-Durham International Airport Authority Board gathered Thursday to vote on a plan that's been more than a year in the making – a new site concept to support the airport's growth.
The board unanimously approved the "preferred alternative" site plan that was unveiled earlier this month, which they narrowed down from nine concepts.
The growth plan requires a new runway on top of additional gates to accommodate future flight additions and a new transportation center. Under the plan, the airport’s longest runway will be moved 500 feet to the left – and that’s the top priority, as it’s nearing its end of life, Airport Authority CEO Michael Landguth says. When the new runway is complete, new gates and amenities will be added to Terminal 2. But the layout of the runway has to be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The site plan has not come without controversy, however, as it shows parcels of airport-owned land along Lake Crabtree – currently under short-term lease with the county – could be leased for development. Currently, much of the forested land is used as recreational trails.
While several showed up Thursday wearing blue “I Support RDU” T-shirts, others had stickers on their lapels stating their support for the trail system.
Natalie Lew, who took the day off work to show her support for the green space, said her group wasn’t just mountain bikers, but representatives of scout groups, joggers, dog walkers – “a lot of different people.”
“We’re not opposed to the master plan other than the land use portion,” she says, wearing a “A Better Vision 2040” sticker. “We understand they have to move forward with the actual master plan.”
While airport officials say they haven’t made a final decision regarding the green space, she says the site plans don’t reflect that. “They should just put a ‘to be determined’ designation. Or a ‘possible recreation use’ designation.”
She fears the airport is nearing a final agreement with a developer over using the forested land as an expansion of a quarry – one of the possible uses officials have already outlined.
