Congressman John D. Dingell

July 24, 2008

Washington, DC - Weeks of talks between the Wayne County Airport Authority and elected officials from the communities surrounding the airport have come to a successful conclusion. Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) is pleased to announce all parties agree on a process for moving forward with the Detroit Metropolitan Airport Master Plan and its accompanying Airport Layout Plan (ALP). The proposed agreement on the development of two Airport Layout Plans, a Future ALP and an Ultimate ALP, will now be submitted to the Airport Authority Board for a vote. That vote will take place today at the airport authority's scheduled 1:30 p.m. Board Meeting at the Ford Conference & Events Center in Dearborn.

The airport and the communities worked with Congressman Dingell to develop a proposal that gives the airport the opportunity to grow when the need arises. The Board will consider a Master Plan proposal that includes a “Future ALP” and an “Ultimate ALP.” The Future ALP will contain projects anticipated before 2016, while the Ultimate ALP will detail future projects – including the potential for a 5th parallel runway and all associated land acquisition. Implementation of the projects will be demand driven. While the airport can move the runway from the Ultimate ALP to the Future ALP, it will first demonstrate a need for it and follow Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) procedure for a layout plan update. The airport has agreed it will notify the communities’ mayors when the airport begins the ALP update which moves the runway project from the Ultimate ALP to the Future ALP and will schedule a meeting at least once a year to update Master Plan projects with the mayors. Any additions to the Future ALP would then go to the FAA for review and approval.

“I think the citizens who live around the airport can feel very good about the proposal,” said Congressman Dingell. “They should be pleased by the work done by the airport and the community leaders who took part in the talks. Everyone came to the table looking to make sure that both the needs of the communities and the Airport were considered when planning any future airport development. Detroit Metro Airport is a fine facility and both the Airport and the surrounding communities realize that the Airport must grow in order to remain competitive. However, today’s agreement will ensure that the communities are informed of decisions that will affect their residents.  The proposal going to the board will be good for all parties.”

Airport authority CEO Lester Robinson said: “One of our most serious obligations to the Detroit region is to plan for the future. We would not be doing our job if we allowed Detroit Metropolitan Airport to become so congested that our community began losing the jobs and economic opportunities that this airport provides. Therefore we are very pleased that Congressman Dingell was able to bring the communities and airport officials together to reach a consensus which provides an opportunity for the airport to grow when the need arises in the future.

“Congressman Dingell has always been a tremendous advocate for transportation infrastructure as well as good community relations. It was the hard work of his staff which brought us to a successful conclusion.”

Romulus Mayor Alan Lambert said: “Credit goes to the hundreds of citizens who spoke up, Congressman Dingell for his leadership and the Airport Authority for their willingness to work with us. Romulus is grateful for the Airport Authority’s cooperation in working through this difficult issue and joining us in finding a solution that will protect our communities while giving the airport what it needs to meet future needs.”

The airport estimates it would need 1,000 acres of land to build and operate the fifth runway and the adjacent taxiways.