Master Plan

Over the past three years we have waited for three studies on the aiport. The first was the report from IMG. Although it was a comprehensive summary of the current status of ORH, it really did not have any earth-shattering revelations. In fact the cost of $100,000 seemed pretty high. Worse yet we ended up retaining IMG after this study, at a cost of an additional $100,000, to help us retain or recruit commercial airlines. To date we have not heard one word as to how IMG has done or is doing.

The second study was New England Regional Air Study Plan. This report painted a rosy picture for ORH forecasting 275,000 to 550,000 passengers by the year 20202.

On December 13th the results from the last report, the Master Plan will be revealed at the airport. What will it say??

• ORH should keep its Part 139 Certification and not downgrade to a GA airport
• Forecast a medium growth scenario (2010-- 161,000, 2015---215,372, 2020--- 288,524)
• upgrade terminal and air carrier support facilities
• upgrade GA and corporate facilities
• upgrade airfield infrastructure

There will, however, be no recommendations as to how we should pay for any of this, how we can cut costs to lower the deficit, should we have an access road nor whether or not we should sell the airport.. There will, however, be a footnote to continue negotiations with MassPort to continue the current operating agreement.

Although the cost for the Master Plan is $400,000, the good news is that 90% was paid by the FAA and the other 10% was picked up by the Mass Aeronautics Commission. Between IMG and Leigh Fisher (now Jacobs) not to mention the New England Regional Air Study Plan, there has been over $600,000 spent on consulting fees, but none came from the City of Worcester coffers. FAA--360,000, Mass Aeronautics $40,000, DOT Small Community Air Service Grant 200,000.

The best thing part of the Master Plan is that on December 14th, there will be no more studies that management will have to wait for. By the way neither the minutes of either the October or November Airport Commission minutes have made on to the city website yet.