PLANE (People Limiting Airport Noise and Expansion) will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, in Hollowbrook Community Center, 320 Hollowbrook Drive, Ewing.
The center is located off of Green Lane, south of the College of New Jersey and east of Route 31.
PLANE Chairman Sharon Squicciarino of Titusville said primary attention will be given to the Federal Aviation Administration’s environmental assessment of Mercer County’s proposed airport expansion plans. She added that "PLANE, with more than 400 members, has been seeking a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement from the FAA to study more thoroughly what effects a larger, busier airport would have on traffic, safety, water and air quality, plant and wildlife species, and noise pollution. Also a concern are the financial costs of such expansion, especially if commercial airlines cannot generate enough business to make it profitable.
"In addition to the $18 million terminal project, the county has proposed spending more than $15 million more to widen and lengthen runway aprons and taxiways."
George DiDonato of Hamilton, a member of PLANE, will discuss the successes of Shuttle America, the two-year-old commercial airline that operates from Trenton Mercer Airport, and the needs of Southwest Airlines.
Business and homeowners may pick up complimentary lawn signs, bumper stickers, petitions and other materials related to proposed airport expansion at the meeting. T-shirts with a PLANE logo also will be available. Property owners who cannot attend the meeting may make other pickup arrangements by calling PLANE at 818-1409 or by e-mail, [email protected].
The PLANE meeting is open to all residents and business representatives from Mercer and Bucks counties who want to learn more about airport issues.
PLANE is a year-old grassroots organization composed of residents primarily from Pennington, and Ewing, Hopewell, and Lawrence townships. It works closely with BRRAM (Bucks Residents for Responsible Airport Management), the four-year-old citizens group in Pennsylvania. Information specifically about BRRAM can be found at www.BRRAM.org.
