I know that I am overly critical of Mr Nemeth, but after all this time this is what has been happening in the background? We already knew that "direct access" is the "key" to the long-term success of the airport. At the same time, we have always maintained that considering direct access off Route 290 at Hope Ave or Cambridge St, was a waste of time, economicly not feasible, would not be finished in my lifetime (43 years old) and most importantly only cause unneeded fear and resentment towards the airport. Bottom line the City Council did the right thing by not supporting these plans.
Instead an exit off the MassPike on to Route 56 could provide the much needed access to the airport, alleviate traffic traveling east-west across the city, pay for itself with toll revenues and be finished within 5 years. Click here for a map. In fact a Pike Entrance proposal has been resurrected, click here for the story.
Unlike the opposition in Worcester, although some in Leicester will oppose, most will see what an exit off the Mass Pike onto Route 56 will do for their property values and tax base. Does Mr Nemeth discuss any of this? No.. What is the answer to our "direct access" problem? Another study, the Worcester Regional Mobility Study!! A study that will cost $425,000, will take 15 months and has not even started yet.
In addition without this mobility study, "Massport management and the agency’s board of directors cannot justify a takeover". Translation, MassPort will not take title to ORH this year, even when the the 3rd six month extenstion ends on December 31st 0f 2008. Looks like another 6 month extension and a decision from MassPort, if the study is done. Bob, what if they do not like the results of the study and vote "no" to a take-over of ORH?
For now lets add this to the other studies and consultants that were suppose to be "the answer".Click here for a more detailed explantion of the studies, but they are:
- ORH Master Plan--final results have not been released
- Airport and Aviation Strategic Planning and Marketing by IMG, who have been retained at a cost of $100,000 from the DOT Small Community Air Service Grant to help retain and recruit a commercial airline.
- New England Regional Air Study Plan
If this mobility study was the "key" to any decision the MassPort Board of Directors would need to make a decision, why hasn't it be done already or in the very least started and close to completion?
Lets all agree that "better" access is the key to long-term success of ORH. We have, however, always argued that the airport in the short-term could be a viable secondary airport with direct leisure flights to popular destination with shuttle service to a major hub. At the very least a break-even operation, not one that loses $2,000,000 per year. Mr Nemeth again blames "direct access" and the reason why Allegiant "bolted" in 2006. If Allegiant passenger loads were excellent, how can you possibly blame access as the reason Allegiant "bolted"?
According to Mr Nemeth, "in the final analysis, however, Massport ownership is the only solution." Can I pose this question for the 1000th time, why are we only talking to MassPort? Additionally the current problems at ORH are our fault because we did not support the acccess roads off 290, which showed a lack of support for the airport to MassPort. As a result we can not blame MassPort now for not wanting to take title, until the Worcester Regional Mobility Study is done. In the meantime keep extending the current agreement, but budget for a 100% retroactive subsidy. In other words Mr Nemeth did his job, we did not listen. Bob, I am deeply sorry please forgive us.
The truth is the real mistake made was that the MassPike onto Route 56 should have always been the "direct" access, not Route 290, that we needed to be discussing for the long-term success of ORH. The short-term failures are simply mismanagement have nothing to do with "access". I myself am not cautiously optimistic.
14 comments:
Sounds like the airport is caught in a Catch -22.
On the one hand access road is the key for the airport to succeed---yet the 1980's and 90's the airport suceeded w/out an acess road.
If we improve ILS? and taxiways the airlines will come--Why wasn't this done when Massport came on board in 2000? when we still had airlines?
We've read numerous articles in the T&G ,Worcester Magazine ,Worcester Business Journal stating there is a wealth of experience and veterans of the aviation industry at the airport-
yet there appears to be conflicts of opinions and goals when reading this blog--
As far as commercial flights go, it would be great to have service at Worcester for the convienece factor alone, but we can survive w/ the existing flights out of T.F
Green, Boston,and Manchester.
My only concern is that we the taxpayers may be trapped into a Catch-22 situation where we have to have commercial service or end up re-paying debt service for Federal grants, terminal debt service, As well as union contracts w/ city employees to keep Worcester designated a commercial airport.
IMHO
Regardless of the activity at other airports; TF Green, Logan, etc, I truly believe Worcester can be successful. There are plenty of airlines out there to serve the customer base. Although, both airport may be located only an hour away, they may be located two hours away for other Central Mass residence or western Mass residence. It's just going to take the right airline(s) offering the right destinations with competitive airfare. Logan and Green may have it all, but the long lines at check in, and navigating around Logan does draw people away. Over the past couple decades, we saw a growth in residents moving further west away from Boston, because of overdevelopment. The same can hold true for airports, the more congestion you have at airports, the more people will start looking for greener pastures.
The Mass Pike exit is a good idea, however, has it caught the ear of anyone else other than a Leicester Selectman? Not that it matters, but, it sounds like the Pike exit would be located in Leicester, however, it would actually be located in Oxford about a mile or more from the Leicester line.
David
The Apple Doesnt Fall far from the tree
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/10/massport_meetings_mostly_a_closed_off_affair/
Dave:
The Mass Pike exit in Leicester/Oxofrd has not caught on yet. It is people like Mr Nemeth, who should be gathering support for an idea like this.
In addition Mr Nemeth should be screaming for privatization of the airport via an outright sale or long-term lease, not telling us to sit around and wait for another study?
Im the person who id'd myself as an industry person who roots for ORH. I guess I should name myself for the purposes of these comments. Let's go with "Roger".
My sources close to the Allegiant talks and others (no...unfortunately i cant tell you folks who they are) over the past few years claim that no airline ever banged on the table for an access road at ORH. Sure...the airlines would like it, but it was never a requirement. Revenue assurances from the business community have the same effect, mean much more to an airline than a road, and they're free. A road requires countless approvals, knocking down houses, years of patience and plenty of cash. A logical strategy would be to get revenue assurances lined up now to lure the right carrier in and then upon their success...work toward building a road. Preparing for ILS upgrades and taxiway improvents is where the focus should be as far as infrastructure improvements are concerned.
Best,
Roger
Roger:
Thank you..
Can anyone please give me a reason to keep the airport open?
IF AND I SAY IF an access road is/can be built it will be 4 to 5 years before the bids for it even go out.
Will Massport stick around that long? 4-5 yrs to bid.......10 years for completion.......thats 2018 at the earliest.
I would need to see some numbers before I absolutely called for closure and maybe Havana Jim can get us off the hook for some of the repayments or in the alternate take the Washington money that is being used to build low income housing in Worc and apply it debt reduction at the airport.
Charley Farley may eventually be proven correct.
Here's what I tried to post this morning under the heading:
"the apple doesnt fall far from the tree" re Massport meetings.
There's also piece on Skybus and New Hampshire in teh Globe business section.
Massport meetings mostly a closed-off affair
February 10, 2008
The Massachusetts Port Authority runs a multibillion-dollar airport, a general aviation airport, a seaport, and a toll bridge. It doles out enough contracts every year to open a department store, or two.
But if you happen to be a taxpayer who wonders how your money is being spent or how your airport is being operated, good luck. It's a similar story with the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
Massport meetings begin at 9 a.m. on weekdays, which makes it tricky for people with jobs to attend. They start in closed session; outsiders must sign in and wait in the lobby until summoned by the public information staff. It can take 10 minutes. It can take three hours.
During two recent meetings, the closed sessions lasted at least two hours. The public portions were speedy affairs, less than an hour long.
Likewise, the agenda is not available in advance. It's no wonder the only people who show up are reporters and a few suits.
Matt Brelis, Massport spokesman, said the matters discussed behind closed doors - legal issues, security, real estate, and collective bargaining - would not serve the public interest if aired openly. He said the authority is reviewing its longstanding policy of keeping the agenda secret.
Jahn:
After 8 years, MassPort needs to see a mobility report before they will take title?? How can we budget in a retro-active subsidy from MassPort??
Before we get to closure of ORH, why for the 1001 time are we only talking to MassPort?? There airport management companies, other airport authorities, airlines, maybe airline companies or maybe a delivery company like UPS who might be interested in ORH.
Bill
Every week Nemeth's handlers let him out to scribble his rancid thoughts and propaganda. We all know that a nearly half million dollar "study" is how our city and state say "F*@k You to the people". A study is set up to make their predetermined design appear valid. The Research Bureau does it for them all the time. Let a private company develop the property and find it's own private subsidy to pay for easier routes to get there.
I was just thinking. I remember oodles of flights out of Worcester; Delta, United, Northwest, USAir, United, and others with a single story old brick terminal that had a pretty good restaurant and no access road. Then someone said that we needed jets and that meant jetways and that meant a new terminal. After the terminal was built, the tower couldn't see the aprons well, so a new tower was built. Today there are no flights, no jets, no restaurant, no access road but a terminal building for the airport exec's, and car rental companies. I say we don't need an access road. We do need someone other that O'Brien and Jacobson, who are the ones who have run everyone out of this town. Get rid of the other buffoons at the airport too. We're gonna be known as a cemetary with lights. Anyway, I was just thinking.
Just checked the Telegram story to read any comments on Mr Nemeth's story. Not a one.
I may be the only guy in Worcester County who reads him every week.
Maybe my point was lost here. I posted that Sunday Globe blurb b/c it certainly appears that oour airport commission operates out of view of the general public.
Based on the atricle it seems Massport may operate in a similar fashion??? Basically screw the taxpayer which I sometimes think is true with other "authorities" which are basically huge feifdoms for the well connected and the under or unqualified. Witness the Worc Housing Authority and 100% non qualified CEO who runs the place and was a 100% political appointment after being unable to land Registrar of Probate or Clerks of Courts positions
FWIW, the land takings for the 146 project in Worc. & Millbury started in Millbury in 1993 & 1994......so guess that means the plans were drawn up well before then.......and for the sake of discussion let's say the road was completed in 2007..........so just from teh commencement of land takings till completion ............the 146 project was 14 years......plus figure in a few more years for studies & planning and we'rer almost 2 decades away from any raod.if at all?
I just want to know what we're going to do in the interim as the Citys cash burn up there is $1M annually?
Also Masspike has claims they are operating in deficit mode and they are going to biuld another interchange just to primarily benefit worcester airport? I think not.
Also, as I stated on here before Rte 56 is the wrong place for any access road....Hope Avenue is the correct place..........land taking are painful and surely upsetting to those affected...........but if you take the position the city council takes..........we wouldnt even have 290 coming through Worcester...........thankfully back in the late 40's the Feds said we are building a road system as part of a national defense initiative and this where we're going to put it ...and ........yup Holy Cross and H. Lad Plumley (State Mutual Ins) managed to have the road positioned so their cherished institutions were in clear view from the proposed and as built interstate...in the process creating the S curve at College Sq and taking a school & Park land from North Park (at Lincoln & Burncaot Sts )
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