Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

FTL Beach Bum · June 6th, 2007, 08:46 AM

Broward Commission votes to expand runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport

By Scott Wyman
Sun-Sentinel.com
Posted June 6 2007, 1:37 AM EDT

A second major runway will be built on the south side of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after county commissioners ended two decades of debate and gave their go-ahead to the long-delayed expansion plans early Wednesday morning.

The commission agreed on a 6-3 vote to proceed with lengthening the current commuter runway to 8,000 feet, bridging over both Federal Highway and the Florida East Coast Railroad tracks. In doing so, the commissioners rejected halting any further expansion at the airport, lengthening the south runway less or building a new runway just north of the current main runway.

Estimates are that the runway will cost $695 million to build and will require the county to buy or soundproof the homes of up to 2,500 nearby residents. The project still must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, a decision that is expected by the end of the year.

"We come to a decision that is long overdue and one which no one takes lightly," Mayor Josephus Eggelletion said. Eggelletion was joined by commissioners Stacy Ritter, Ken Keechl, Ilene Lieberman, Kristin Jacobs and Diana Wasserman-Rubin in favoring the plan. Commissioners John Rodstrom, Suzanne Gunzburger and Lois Wexler opposed it.

Commissioner John Rodstrom accused his colleagues of making a hasty and unnecessary decision. He said the commission was relaying on flawed data about travel projections and did not know enough about how much the runway, neighborhood assistance to offset noise and the subsequent need for new gates will cost.

"It is damn wrong and is a disservice to us," Rodstrom said. "We would be criticized for not making a decision, but we will also be criticized for making a decision without the proper financial information. I'm shocked."

The vote came just before 1:30 a.m. after 4 1/2 hours of public testimony and another two hours of debate among the commissioners.

Concerns about noise and overdevelopment clashed Tuesday night with calls for the area's airport to handle more flights and passengers without lengthy delays.

Broward County commissioners faced a largely hostile crowd as they met to decide whether to build a second major runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. More than 1,000 people packed the county convention center, jeering any who favored expansion and cheering those who did not.

The heckling became so extreme that commissioners once threatened to have deputies clear the room. Deputies escorted environmental activist Brenda Chalifour from the convention center in handcuffs after she tried to speak without permission. Chalifour was ticketed on a charge of trespassing and released on her own recognizance, sheriff's spokesman Mike Jachles said.

Earlier Tuesday, commissioners toured the neighborhoods nearest the airport to the south and west to listen to planes landing and taking off. If they decide to expand the airport, the county could have to buy or soundproof as many as 2,500 homes in the noisiest areas around the new runway.

The airport has long relied on three runways: a 9,000-foot main north runway, a 5,276-foot south runway and a 6,930-foot crosswind runway. The crosswind runway traditionally is used only in emergencies, while the south runway is too short for major commercial jets and is used primarily by private aircraft.

Lengthening the south runway to 8,000 feet would cost $694 million . Another option is lengthening it to 6,001 feet at a cost of $523.5 million, but would do less to reduce delays .

The expected vote would bring to an end two decades of debate over the runway. Concerns raised by the opponents prompted commissioners to retreat four years ago and order a new detailed study.

The airport has touted the runway as needed to alleviate delays from the expected growth in air travel. If no new runway is built, aviation consultants estimate delays will top 26 minutes on average by 2020, four times what is considered acceptable.

Opponents argued Tuesday that the plans remain flawed and the runway was not needed.

Officials from Dania Beach and Davie, the two cities that would be most affected by a longer south runway, called on the county to review the data being used to justify another runway. They said traffic at Fort Lauderdale has increased only while that at Miami International Airport has declined and that Miami has enough capacity to handle more flights.

"You can't ignore the reality of the data and the facts when it so affects the environment and people's lives," Dania Beach City Commissioner Ann Castro said.

Most residents complained about how the loud noise of commercial jets would harm their ability to enjoy their homes, sit on their patios or work in their gardens. Some held up pictures of their homes, and others became emotional and charged that the commission was bowing to the will of the business community.

"You wasted our money before, and you're getting ready to waste it again," said Fay Bartelmes of Dania Beach.

Largely outnumbered, business executives and residents from elsewhere in Broward urged the commission to expand the airport. They said it was crucial to the tourism-based economy as well as to residents who live here that travel.

"It would be a travesty if the first impression and the last impression people have of Broward County is less than five-star," said public relations executive Kathy Koch, noting the high-end hotels being built along the beach.

Even after a decision by the county, the Federal Aviation Administration must approve a new runway. That could happen by the end of the year, allowing design and construction work to begin early next year and be completed by 2014.

The 8,000-foot option would require it to bridge over Federal Highway and the Florida East Coast Railroad. The runway would slope slightly upward west to east to reach a height of about 45 feet above the roadway and rail tracks.

In addition, the airport would have to close the crosswind runway and buy part or all of the nearby Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel. About 15 acres of wetlands also will be destroyed, but the airport will pay for improvements to West Lake Park to offset the damage.

"We ask you to demonstrate leadership for all of Broward County," said construction executive Terry Stiles in urging support for the 8,000-foot runway.

But Mike McKeever, a commercial pilot and Dania Beach resident, questioned the safety of a sloped runway: "If you vote for this, you will be voting for the albatross of runways."

Scott Wyman can be reached at swyman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4511.

Source

Wow.

spellbound · June 6th, 2007, 09:09 AM

Wow.

It'll be pretty damn dramatic to have planes literally landing 30-feet above passing traffic on Federal Highway.

I foresee a LOT of great pictures and a LOT of great accidents from drivers trying to take a quick cellphone shot...

Seriously, though, this will solidify FLL as the dominant domestic gateway to South Florida (just as MIA is the main international point of entry/exit).

What I'm wondering, though, is if FLL has MUCH bigger plans down the road---maybe as competition for the International routes?

That would be great for consumers. A big part of the reason it's so cheap to fly between cities like New York and London is because there's COMPETITION and more than one airport to fly into. Gatwick to JFK...Newark to Heathrow...whatever. You have choices. And because of that you can get deals.

I hope FLL is angling to take MIA on in that game. The competition would only make both do a better job and reduce prices.

FTL Beach Bum · June 6th, 2007, 09:20 AM

Here's a better view of the proposal, from the FAA's Draft Environmental Impact Statement presentation:

...Which will follow a similar bridge design that was recently implemented for Atlanta's runway 10-28:

Amazing. Will be stunning to see it go up in the next few years.

ftlauddude · June 7th, 2007, 03:17 AM

WOW

floridian-will · June 7th, 2007, 05:25 PM

They can land on top of a Fort Laud highway, but they cant allow 1000 footers to be built?

FTL Beach Bum · June 7th, 2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floridian-will

They can land on top of a Fort Laud highway, but they cant allow 1000 footers to be built?

Who said 1000 footers can't be built in Fort Lauderdale?

SoBe99 · June 7th, 2007, 06:54 PM

It was quiet a scene watching the highlights of the protestors on TV. You would have thought they were proposing a nuclear waste facility.

Rx727sfl2002 · June 7th, 2007, 09:14 PM

TALLER TOWERS ARE ALLOWED IN LAUDERDALE TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE CITY BUT NONE HAVE BEEN BUILT...

THE RIVER HOWEVER DOES HAVE A SET MAX ON HOW TALL THEY CAN GO.

floridian-will · June 8th, 2007, 12:31 AM

What I meant was, why can they land planes on top of highways in Ft Luad, but they cant build a 1k footer in Miami?

thetallerthebetter · June 8th, 2007, 12:42 AM

that question has been answered SO MANY TIMES DUDE

ftlauddude · June 8th, 2007, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floridian-will

What I meant was, why can they land planes on top of highways in Ft Luad, but they cant build a 1k footer in Miami?

YES!!!!!!! 'CAUSE IT WONT BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PATH OF THE AIRPLANE...SIMPLE!!!!! THIS AIRPORT DOESNT HAVE THAT PROBLEM 'CAUSE DTWN IS NORTH OF IT...NOT JUST EAST OF IT LIKE IN MIAMI, ROUTE THAT MOST OF THE FLIGHTS TAKE WHEN THEY LEAVE DADE COUNTY!!!! THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO CALL BETTER PLANNING

coruna · June 8th, 2007, 02:47 AM

Miami's airport is much older than FLL. Fort Lauderdale has better aviation planning because the airport is newer. Back in the 1930s and 1940s when MIA was designed, nobody ever thought someone would want to build supertall skyscrapers in downtown Miami......but I agree it was bad planning.

FTL Beach Bum · June 8th, 2007, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ftlauddude

.

Chill?

ftlauddude · June 8th, 2007, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FTL Beach Bum

Chill?

I know bro..but if something good happens in this side of the Metro area some people become so whiny! What they can do this..and we cant do that...

floridian-will · June 8th, 2007, 03:05 AM

"we cant do that" There is no "we", I dont live in Miami, I myself think its an awsome idea and I am far from complaining.

FTL Beach Bum · June 8th, 2007, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coruna

Miami's airport is much older than FLL

Actually, only by a single year.

MIA: Opened as Pan American Field in 1928. (Source)
FLL: Opened as Merle L. Fogg Airport in 1929. (Source)

Quote:

Originally Posted by coruna

Fort Lauderdale has better aviation planning because the airport is newer. Back in the 1930s and 1940s when MIA was designed, nobody ever thought someone would want to build supertall skyscrapers in downtown Miami

Nah, FLL just happened to be built on a former municipal golf course that by pure coincidence was closer to the water...Hence not enough room to build an entire downtown district along the axis of the prevailing winds in the area.

If said golf course was, say, in the area of present-day Plantation, then downtown Fort Lauderdale would have been in the same exact predicament as downtown Miami is today: SOL.

I assure you, it wasn't urban planning by any means.

MiamiMike · June 8th, 2007, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spellbound

Seriously, though, this will solidify FLL as the dominant domestic gateway to South Florida (just as MIA is the main international point of entry/exit).

I think this is a good observation on spellbound's point. I know very little about flight paths, the airline business, etc. FLL clearly dominates in domestic flight arrivals to South FL though.

I've lived in Miami for almost 8 years now and everytime someone visits, Im always picking them up in Fort Lauderdale. The people who visit enjoy it, because they get a 30 minute tour of their destination before I take them to my place or the hotel.

Hanshin-Tigress · June 8th, 2007, 06:05 AM

Wow i would probably crash while driving because i will be staring at the plane landing.

DShoost88 · June 8th, 2007, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maki-chan

Wow i would probably crash while driving because i will be staring at the plane landing.

Actually, you can see the planes landing now even... they fly right over you when you're driving on I-95 and/or US-1 (US-1 is the road that will become a tunnel for the runway).

Did anyone else see the first image posted by FTL Beach Bum before? If you take another look, you'll notice that not only will they decommission the cross-wind runway, but also they will extend terminal 3 into a "T". I read on their website that this whole southern runway will allow the airport to create 90 more gates (80% to 100% more capacity). The added gates, extended runway, and eventual passenger link to Port Everglades a half mile away will convert FLL into a Superport--the first of its kind anywhere in the world!

Imagine the possibilities that will provide for SoFlo. Now all Fort Lauderdale has to do is create a special regional network, similar to that of the Miami-Dade merge a few years ago, and economic potential will really boom there!

Rx727sfl2002 · June 8th, 2007, 07:12 AM

EXCUSE ME BUT MIAMI CBD IS SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT WHILE FLL IS NORTH OF ITS AIRPORT AND BOTH AIRPORTS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME...

BETTER CITY PLANNING?
SOMEONE PLEASE GRAB A MAP...

MIAMI AIRPORT

FORT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT

June 6th, 2007, 08:46 AM	#1
FTL Beach Bum Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 573 Likes (Received): 1	*Just Approved: FLL's Newly-Expanded 8,000 foot* Southern Runway! Broward Commission votes to expand runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport By Scott Wyman Sun-Sentinel.com Posted June 6 2007, 1:37 AM EDT A second major runway will be built on the south side of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after county commissioners ended two decades of debate and gave their go-ahead to the long-delayed expansion plans early Wednesday morning. The commission agreed on a 6-3 vote to proceed with lengthening the current commuter runway to 8,000 feet**, bridging over both Federal Highway and the Florida East Coast Railroad tracks. In doing so, the commissioners rejected halting any further expansion at the airport, lengthening the south runway less or building a new runway just north of the current main runway. Estimates are that the runway will cost $695 million to build and will require the county to buy or soundproof the homes of up to 2,500 nearby residents. The project still must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, a decision that is expected by the end of the year. "We come to a decision that is long overdue and one which no one takes lightly," Mayor Josephus Eggelletion said. Eggelletion was joined by commissioners Stacy Ritter, Ken Keechl, Ilene Lieberman, Kristin Jacobs and Diana Wasserman-Rubin in favoring the plan. Commissioners John Rodstrom, Suzanne Gunzburger and Lois Wexler opposed it. Commissioner John Rodstrom accused his colleagues of making a hasty and unnecessary decision. He said the commission was relaying on flawed data about travel projections and did not know enough about how much the runway, neighborhood assistance to offset noise and the subsequent need for new gates will cost. "It is damn wrong and is a disservice to us," Rodstrom said. "We would be criticized for not making a decision, but we will also be criticized for making a decision without the proper financial information. I'm shocked." The vote came just before 1:30 a.m. after 4 1/2 hours of public testimony and another two hours of debate among the commissioners. Concerns about noise and overdevelopment clashed Tuesday night with calls for the area's airport to handle more flights and passengers without lengthy delays. Broward County commissioners faced a largely hostile crowd as they met to decide whether to build a second major runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. More than 1,000 people packed the county convention center, jeering any who favored expansion and cheering those who did not. The heckling became so extreme that commissioners once threatened to have deputies clear the room. Deputies escorted environmental activist Brenda Chalifour from the convention center in handcuffs after she tried to speak without permission. Chalifour was ticketed on a charge of trespassing and released on her own recognizance, sheriff's spokesman Mike Jachles said. Earlier Tuesday, commissioners toured the neighborhoods nearest the airport to the south and west to listen to planes landing and taking off. If they decide to expand the airport, the county could have to buy or soundproof as many as 2,500 homes in the noisiest areas around the new runway. The airport has long relied on three runways: a 9,000-foot main north runway, a 5,276-foot south runway and a 6,930-foot crosswind runway. The crosswind runway traditionally is used only in emergencies, while the south runway is too short for major commercial jets and is used primarily by private aircraft. Lengthening the south runway to 8,000 feet would cost $694 million . Another option is lengthening it to 6,001 feet at a cost of $523.5 million, but would do less to reduce delays . The expected vote would bring to an end two decades of debate over the runway. Concerns raised by the opponents prompted commissioners to retreat four years ago and order a new detailed study. The airport has touted the runway as needed to alleviate delays from the expected growth in air travel. If no new runway is built, aviation consultants estimate delays will top 26 minutes on average by 2020, four times what is considered acceptable. Opponents argued Tuesday that the plans remain flawed and the runway was not needed. Officials from Dania Beach and Davie, the two cities that would be most affected by a longer south runway, called on the county to review the data being used to justify another runway. They said traffic at Fort Lauderdale has increased only while that at Miami International Airport has declined and that Miami has enough capacity to handle more flights. "You can't ignore the reality of the data and the facts when it so affects the environment and people's lives," Dania Beach City Commissioner Ann Castro said. Most residents complained about how the loud noise of commercial jets would harm their ability to enjoy their homes, sit on their patios or work in their gardens. Some held up pictures of their homes, and others became emotional and charged that the commission was bowing to the will of the business community. "You wasted our money before, and you're getting ready to waste it again," said Fay Bartelmes of Dania Beach. Largely outnumbered, business executives and residents from elsewhere in Broward urged the commission to expand the airport. They said it was crucial to the tourism-based economy as well as to residents who live here that travel. "It would be a travesty if the first impression and the last impression people have of Broward County is less than five-star," said public relations executive Kathy Koch, noting the high-end hotels being built along the beach. Even after a decision by the county, the Federal Aviation Administration must approve a new runway. That could happen by the end of the year, allowing design and construction work to begin early next year and be completed by 2014. The 8,000-foot option would require it to bridge over Federal Highway and the Florida East Coast Railroad. The runway would slope slightly upward west to east to reach a height of about 45 feet above the roadway and rail tracks. In addition, the airport would have to close the crosswind runway and buy part or all of the nearby Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel. About 15 acres of wetlands also will be destroyed, but the airport will pay for improvements to West Lake Park to offset the damage. "We ask you to demonstrate leadership for all of Broward County," said construction executive Terry Stiles in urging support for the 8,000-foot runway. But Mike McKeever, a commercial pilot and Dania Beach resident, questioned the safety of a sloped runway: "If you vote for this, you will be voting for the albatross of runways." Scott Wyman can be reached at swyman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4511. Source Wow.

June 7th, 2007, 03:17 AM	#4
ftlauddude Ça va? Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL Posts: 3,197 Likes (Received): 6	WOW __________________ Je suis à Ft Laud, et vous? From the Land of the Lacoste...

June 8th, 2007, 12:42 AM	#10
thetallerthebetter Biscayne Corridor Realtor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Miami Posts: 933 Likes (Received): 0	ad nauseam that question has been answered SO MANY TIMES DUDE

June 8th, 2007, 03:05 AM	#15
floridian-will Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,836 Likes (Received): 0	"we cant do that" There is no "we", I dont live in Miami, I myself think its an awsome idea and I am far from complaining. __________________ Check out my Stock Photo Portfolio: http://www.dreamstime.com/Floridianw...st-adition_pg1

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June 6th, 2007, 09:09 AM	#2
spellbound Contents Under Pressure Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: philly/miami Posts: 6,136 Likes (Received): 28	Wow. It'll be pretty damn dramatic to have planes literally landing 30-feet above passing traffic on Federal Highway. I foresee a LOT of great pictures and a LOT of great accidents from drivers trying to take a quick cellphone shot... Seriously, though, this will solidify FLL as the dominant domestic gateway to South Florida (just as MIA is the main international point of entry/exit). What I'm wondering, though, is if FLL has MUCH bigger plans down the road---maybe as competition for the International routes? That would be great for consumers. A big part of the reason it's so cheap to fly between cities like New York and London is because there's COMPETITION and more than one airport to fly into. Gatwick to JFK...Newark to Heathrow...whatever. You have choices. And because of that you can get deals. I hope FLL is angling to take MIA on in that game. The competition would only make both do a better job and reduce prices.

June 6th, 2007, 09:20 AM	#3
FTL Beach Bum Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 573 Likes (Received): 1	Here's a better view of the proposal, from the FAA's Draft Environmental Impact Statement presentation: ...Which will follow a similar bridge design that was recently implemented for Atlanta's runway 10-28: Amazing. Will be stunning to see it go up in the next few years.

June 7th, 2007, 05:25 PM	#5
floridian-will Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,836 Likes (Received): 0	They can land on top of a Fort Laud highway, but they cant allow 1000 footers to be built?

June 7th, 2007, 06:54 PM	#7
SoBe99 South of Fifth Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Beach Posts: 297 Likes (Received): 0	It was quiet a scene watching the highlights of the protestors on TV. You would have thought they were proposing a nuclear waste facility.

June 7th, 2007, 09:14 PM	#8
Rx727sfl2002 BANNED Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: MIAMI Posts: 1,304 Likes (Received): 0	TALLER TOWERS ARE ALLOWED IN LAUDERDALE TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE CITY BUT NONE HAVE BEEN BUILT... THE RIVER HOWEVER DOES HAVE A SET MAX ON HOW TALL THEY CAN GO.

June 8th, 2007, 12:31 AM	#9
floridian-will Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,836 Likes (Received): 0	What I meant was, why can they land planes on top of highways in Ft Luad, but they cant build a 1k footer in Miami?

June 8th, 2007, 02:47 AM	#12
coruna BANNED Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Coral Gables Posts: 656 Likes (Received): 0	Miami's airport is much older than FLL. Fort Lauderdale has better aviation planning because the airport is newer. Back in the 1930s and 1940s when MIA was designed, nobody ever thought someone would want to build supertall skyscrapers in downtown Miami......but I agree it was bad planning.

June 8th, 2007, 06:05 AM	#18
Hanshin-Tigress BANNED Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 和歌山市(Wakayama);Orlando Posts: 1,751 Likes (Received): 0	Wow i would probably crash while driving because i will be staring at the plane landing.

June 8th, 2007, 07:12 AM	#20
Rx727sfl2002 BANNED Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: MIAMI Posts: 1,304 Likes (Received): 0	EXCUSE ME BUT MIAMI CBD IS SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT WHILE FLL IS NORTH OF ITS AIRPORT AND BOTH AIRPORTS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME... BETTER CITY PLANNING? SOMEONE PLEASE GRAB A MAP... MIAMI AIRPORT FORT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT