Commissioner Korta of the Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced the release of the Draft Connecticut Statewide Airport System Plan (CSASP) for public review, and that a Public Informational Meeting is scheduled for this Plan.

A Public Informational Meeting for the CSASP will be held:

Date:          Monday, January 9, 2006 (If announced, snow date January 23, 2006)

Location:     Connecticut Department of Transportation Headquarters

                 2800 Berlin Turnpike

                 Newington, CT, 06131

Time:

                 Day Session: 3:oo p.m. to 5:oo p.m.

                 Evening Session: 7:oo p.m. to 9:oo p.m.

To view the Draft CSASP online, please visit the Department web site at www.ct.gov/dot and follow the "Plans, Projects & Studies" link on the left side of the page.  The CSASP draft is also available for review at the following regional planning organizations in Connecticut (please contact the preferred location for directions and available viewing hours):

• Capitol Region Council of Governments, Hartford (860-522-2217)
• Central CT Regional Planning Agency, Bristol (860-224-9888)
• CT River Estuary Regional Planning Agency, Old Saybrook (860-388-3497)
• Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley, Waterbury (203-757-0535)
• Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency, Bridgeport (203-366-5405)
• Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials, Brookfield (203-775-6256)
• Midstate Regional Planning Agency, Middletown (860-347-7214)
• South Central Regional Council of Governments, North Haven (203-234-7555)
• South Western Regional Planning Agency, Stamford (203-316-5190)
• Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, Norwich (860-889-2324)
• Valley Council of Governments, Derby (203-735-8688)
• Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials, Goshen (860-491-9884)
• Northeastern CT Council of Governments, Dayville (860-774-1253)
• Northwestern CT Council of Governments, Warren (860-868-7341)
• Windham Region Council of Governments, Willimantic (860-456-2221)

The Department is interested in your views.  Comments will be collected until February 10, 2006.  Comments can be submitted at the public informational meeting, by e-mail to David.Head@po.state.ct.us or in writing to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT 06131, Attention: Mr. David Head.

The purpose of this CSASP is to provide a comprehensive review of the current aviation system serving Connecticut, to identify existing and projected aviation needs, and to develop policies that will support the continued operation and maintenance of Connecticut's public airports. This study reviews and documents the state of the public aviation system in Connecticut by identifying those airports available for public use, their facilities and capacity, it identifies future demand, reviews Federal and State funding sources and makes recommendations to help sustain and improve the system.  This will ensure that Connecticut's airports continue to serve the state's residents and businesses in the safest, most efficient and cost effective manner possible.

This CSASP will provide the framework for detailed airport master planning.  It is important for the CSASP to look to the future, as the initial step in securing funding for future aviation initiatives.

This plan forecasts that for Connecticut's public use airports, aircraft operations will increase by approximately 42 percent by the year 2025 (2 percent per year) and the number of aircraft based at Connecticut public airports will increase by approximately 15 percent (0.7 percent per year).  However, while the operations and based aircraft are forecasted to increase, this CSASP shows that the aviation system will be able to accommodate this increase with proper planning.  In the year 2025, it is forecast that only two airports will exceed 60 percent of their operational capacity.  In addition, in 2025, only four airports are forecast to expect a substantial increase in based aircraft.  Based on these findings, interviews with airport management and comments received to date, recommendations have been developed regarding airport policy in Connecticut.

The recommendations are varied in their approach to maintaining and improving the aviation system in Connecticut.  A sampling of the recommendations in this plan include:

• Modifications to the airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS);
• Recommendations for improving and maintaining capacity for airports, both for commercial and general aviation;
• Determining locations for forecasted based aircraft to be accommodated by reviewing this topic in future master plans at designated airports;
• Establishing low interest loans for public use airports not eligible for federal or state funding, for safety and maintenance projects;
• Techniques to preserve and reclaim obstruction free approach zones at airports;
• Performing a study of the economic impact that the public use airports have on Connecticut and their local communities; and
• Developing public awareness programs for airports.