I feel compelled to write regarding omissions and errors in Scott Van Voorhis’ column (“A Wild Proposal From A Local Developer May Save The Worcester Airport,” March 31, 2014) on Worcester Regional Airport.
It is unfortunate Van Voorhis ignored information provided to him by Massport about current and historic passenger numbers at Worcester Regional Airport while proposing a new access road is needed. Massport does not believe an access road is necessary.
At its peak in 1989, Worcester Airport served more than 350,000 people; between 2009 and 2012, 250,000 people chose Worcester Airport.
Since JetBlue started service in November 2013 more than 40,000 people have already flown through Worcester Airport.
This tells us people know how to get to the airport without an access road.
Van Voorhis also characterized Worcester Airport as “one of the least accessible” in the nation.
In the last two years Massport, MassDOT, Worcester and Auburn have worked collaboratively to improve access to the airport and with improved signage on a route through Auburn.
This route avoids downtown Worcester and gets motorists from I-90 to the airport routinely in 15 minutes.
While a column, is by definition an opinion piece, it was not correct to portray the developer in the piece as representing the interests of the town of Leicester. A call to the town manager would have made it clear the developer does not speak for the municipality.
Lastly, Van Voorhis made it seem as if improvements to the airport’s instrument landing system required development of a haul road to haul “1 to 3 million cubic yards of fill,” when one tenth of that amount is likely to be trucked over existing streets. In doing so, he unfairly portrayed a member of the media relations team as confused.
Massport does agree with developer Steven Zieff, to use Van Voorhis’s words, that the airport is a “gem in the making.”
Massport estimates Worcester Airport will generate $369 million of economic activity over the next 10 years. Massport commissioned Frasca & Associates LLC to assess the 10-year economic impacts anticipated from new airline service by JetBlue and Massport’s current and future investments in the airport – including the development of a new fixed base operator facility to handle private and corporate aircraft. The study examined the direct and induced aviation-related economic impacts these activities will have to the Central Massachusetts regional economy.
Massport believes Worcester Regional Airport is an important asset that must be maintained as a commercial airport to provide Central Massachusetts with easy, convenient and safe access to the national airspace system. That is why the authority is installing a new sophisticated landing system that will make a safe facility even safer and improve reliability in bad weather.
We continue to believe that with its current access Worcester Regional Airport serves a vital role in the Central Massachusetts economy. And Massport will continue to work with our federal, state and regional partners to bring commercial airlines and general aviation – and the jobs those industries create – to the heart of New England.
Andrew Davis
Airport Director
Worcester Regional Airport
