First off, "silly bloggers masquerading as airport experts". We may actually be silly, but nobody on the blog has proclaimed themself to be an airport expert. Does Mr Nemeth consider himself an airport expert? Putting that aside lets focus on the actual story.
We all understand the role of MassPort and appreciate the fact that they have bought us time to get our act together. Mr Nemeth, however, goes back to his common theme of blaming us for all the problems at ORH for not building a direct access road. Obviously ORH would be better off with better access, but I have a question for Mr Nemeth. How do do you explain 346,000 passengers counts in the 1989 or the 85% load factor for Allegiant in 2005 without an access road? What about airports like Rockford that do not have a direct access road?
In the article Mr Nemeth relies on the $100,000 airport study done by IMG. Mr Nemeth, what about the IMG recommendation in this same study that we should downgrade to General Aviation, if we are not successful in attracting commercial service? By the way what has IMG done with the other an additional $100,000 that we paid them to help us recruit an airline?
Closing ORH?? Although this is mentioned sometimes, us silly bloggers have not been calling for the closing of ORH. We have, however, urged that an RFP be put together to outright sell or long-term lease the airport and not to confine our options to only MassPort. Mr Nemeth why have we not done this?
What did Mr Nemeth have to say about the $400,000 20 year Master Plan that took three years to complete? Nothing--not a word. Bob, maybe if the Twenty Year Master Plan had addresed some of the benefits of an access road and you looked at us silly bloggers as allies, we could make an access road a reality.
So what is the answer now to "cut through the fog"? Another study--I kid you not. Evidently the $100,000 IMG study, the New England Regional Airport Study (unknown cost) and the $400,000 20 Year Master Plan was not enough. We need another study that will cost $400,000 and take 18 months-- you got to be kiddin me!!!!! The only option is the MassPike exit onto Route 56 by the way.
According to Mr Nemeth, MassPort will see this study as the commitment that they need to address the access issue and will take over ORH. A study will be seen as a commitment??
Super Bore here are my own fog cutting suggestions:
- By Sept/Oct if we do not have commercial service for this winter season, we need to downgrade to GA as IMG suggested.
- We appreciate everything MassPort has done
- We do not want to close ORH
- We do however want an RFP put together to long-term lease or sell ORH and to market this extensively.
- Replace waiting for the results from studies with action
Bill Randell
Most definately not an Airport Expert
AKA Silly Blogger
10 comments:
Why don't they transfer the Airport Rescue and FireFighting (ARFF) crews to the city fire department, and not bother closing a fire station?
ARFF is only required for 15 minuted before and after each airline operation. How long have they been sitting around, feeding at the public trough, waiting for another airline operation?
Maybe the 'aviation experts' should exercise some common sense.
LOL !!!! Go Bill!
Harry Tembenis
Worcester, MA
Bill
Back in the mid 80's to mid 90's I worked in the accounting dept of a manufacturing firm & routiniely saw airfare to chicago & Kc at 800 $ RT & 500$ to DC, 1200$ to LA & SD. Worcester could compete with those airfare because the federal govt basically said to the airline if you want to fly out of boston put some flights into worcester. In a competitive environment ORH cannot compete.
I nearly spit out my coffee and choked on my bagel this morning when I read that swipe that Nemeth took at you.
Those in the legit print media sure have a chip on their shoulders when it comes to admitting that citizen bloggers have a real and legit place in opining and informing the public.
4rilla:
I laughed when I saw it. Seriously when have I ever said I was an airport expert?
The thing that really bothers me is that he really believes that we need another study??
More importantly Mr Nemeth should be building alliances with the public, and the City Council, to support the airport and things like an access road not calling us silly and stupid. Funny I can send an e-mail to the Rockford Airport Director and he will get right back to me and even did a blog interview. He gets it.
Mr Nemeth is more worried about his ego then actually making the airport the asset that it should be.
Bill
seems to be more re-hash..what is new in today's story.....does Mick O'Brien have the authority to have an access road created?
Where would the access road start and go through?? What "politically connected" neighborhood would be ruined??
Paulie:
You are right it is just a rehash. As Mr Nemeth says in 1998, the state highway department came up with 27 options to improve access from Route 290. All were rejected.
What are we doing 10 years later? We are going to do another study. Lets for arguements sake it is recommeded again that we use the Hope Ave exit. What do you think will happen? Answer: the road would get shot down again.
There is no way in hell we would be able to get the monies anyhow that would be needed to build and East-West Connector. In the end, the study will talk about better co-ordination of traffic lights, a new lane here or there and maybe an exit off the Mass Pike on to Route 56.
We are to believe, however, that once this study is done MassPort's concerns about accessibility will be answered and they they will take over ORH? It just makes no sense.
Bill
I took a journalism course in college, and was taught that the media's primary function was to keep an eye on government, and hence their almost universal anti-government position.
Too bad Worcester's newspaper is in bed with the local government and is actually promoting waste.
I have read or been told that Massport has eminent domain authority........not sure that it would extent to access raod building..................but it applies to airport expansion...........I'll even bet that TF Greene does, too.....as I believe they took many, many houses to expand runways down there back in the 80's, I think it was.
Speaking of eminent domain.........another consultants report recommends taking the AT&T building on Main St (assuming here AT&T may not be too keen on selling it to the city) opposite the courthouse....as part of North Main revitalization. Can anyone say AT&T (Kelo) vs. Worcester.
Could we plaese get City Sq, the Airport, The Canal District, & Union Station completed/off the drawing board before we begin other undertakings? Thank you .
Did anyone catch Diane yesterday re: the latest Police-Gate? Unidentified officer is quoted re the latest departmental malfeasance '"These are hard working, good guys. If the chief had a problem with what they were doing, why not issue a warning first, rather than disrupt their lives and families? This came from out of the blue. I feel bad for them" '
I am telling you folks .....this mentality is again the over the top sense of entitlement that many in gov't jobs feel........we now have to issue a warning to those who are allegeedly stealing from the city before we pop em.
I wonder if this same line of reasoning applies to bank robbers and dope pushers and thsoe would dare drive 50 mph in a 35 zone?
Just yesterday I heard a story of a kid bartender in a restaurant who "comped" himself a free meal with the managers comp card. Can you say immediately terminated when uncovered?
The 3000lb elephant in this fiasco is the 80-100K stolen is only in during January to June. Dare I ask about past periods. If this is pervasive and other malfeasers are discovered????????......what then........
These guys s/b of the payroll w/o pay.......if innocent.......then welcome back.........
Thought I'd chime in too: Ding!
Post a Comment