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Stewart Airport to Become Fourth Major Metro Airport
Significant potential economic impacts could come to Putnam
by Margaret Sternberg
Following last month's decision by the Port Authority of New York to purchase the operating lease of Stewart Airport from Britain's National Express Corp., and to have that airport function as the region's fourth major airport, in addition to Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark, questions have arisen on the impact of that decision on Putnam County.
Legislator Vinny Tamagna, who is First Vice Chairman on the Hudson Valley Regional Council, a group comprised of members from Orange, Ulster, Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam and Rockland Counties that is located at the airport and considers issues that have an impact on the region, said that the Council has always seen Stewart as the "hub of transportation and also a very powerful economic engine for the Hudson River Valley."
Tamagna said the potential of the airport had not been met due to a lack of carriers willing to either try the airport or be willing to stay. Another problem had been a lack of ability to price competitively with respect to the other area airports and that Stewart's image as a full-service airport suffered in comparison to other airports.
The airport is "very well situated" compared to Westchester County Airport, which, according to Tamagna, has "the reservoir issues and a lot of environmental impacts." Tamagna said the airport is isolated on an old airbase and is "well-shielded."
Tamagna said that in addition to adding new, and larger, carriers, who will have more destinations, a physical expansion of the airport is expected and the construction of a rail line to Penn Station is being considered. While cautioning that "none of this is going to happen overnight," and that the expansion would be a "phased plan," Tamagna said, "the connection of bringing a hub in... [would] call for an exit that would go directly into the airport off of the Thruway."
Tamagna said that he expects the main effect of the expansion of the airport to be an increased corporate presence in the area and not tourism. He said that the Hudson Valley now has an opportunity to market itself as "the example for the sustainable community, where you can have your corporation, your business…and the quality of life." Some of the large businesses currently in the area will now have a chance to become "re-energize[d]…the next big boom for corporate America…will be everywhere…within a 20-25-mile radius of the airport is probably prime."
Tamagna said the area could play host to business meetings and for flying clients in from distant locations. He also noted that people could arrive via the train, adding that a [commuter] rail line is "desperately needed for the West side of the river," elaborating that the addition of the line would facilitate expansion on both sides of the river.
Newly-elected Congressman John Hall also is deeply involved in the Stewart Airport expansion. Hall, who is on the Aviation sub-committee of the Transportation Committee, said that he had asked for assignment to that sub-committee specifically because of the importance of the airport to his district. He said that he wanted to be in a position to make "those road steps and the development…[of] the highway access…make all those things happen in the most sensible and environmentally sound way."
Hall described Stewart as a "great facility, not being utilized." Now that the Port Authority owns the operating lease of Stewart, Hall said, there will be "more stability, and people will be able to plan knowing that the Port Authority has taken control. With the experience that they have with the other…airports, and the stability of the Port Authority, their relationships with all the airlines will make it easier for them to bring a lot more flights of more airlines in." At the same time, Hall said, there is already congestion on local roads and "there are plans afoot, I believe, to have a direct route into Stewart via I-84" as well as several other more direct options than currently exist.
The timeframe for road and rail implementation is expected to be five to ten years. New carriers are already being encouraged, and additional facilities will probably be seen in three years. Tamagna said he expected the size of the airport to "at least" double.
Asked about specific influences of Stewart on Philipstown, Tamagna said one thing he does not expect is increased noise over Philipstown from increased air traffic.
Tamagna said he foresees that the North end of Route 9, close to the Dutchess County border, may benefit from corporate business that would want to be close to the Thruway, adding there is good potential to help with the tax base and to create jobs, although he did not expect to see "the character of Route 9 change." He did, however, expect to see safety improvements made to handle an increased amount of traffic. He said "smart and sensible density and scale of business" would be handled at the local level.
Although he saw the expansion helping construction businesses along Route 9, Tamagna did not see the tourist businesses directly benefiting. He speculated that if a small-scale hotel was built in the area, tourist businesses would benefit. He said that as the expansion gets further into the actual process, Philipstown's options will become clearer.
The lease purchase by the Port Authority is expected to be completed by October, 2007.
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