Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

[coruna]

MIA has that crosswind runway though that has planes taking off and landing to the southeast of the airport. That flight path goes right over southern Brickell.

[FTL Beach Bum]

Originally Posted by DShoost88

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".

Yeah, but don't take that at face-value. Even Terminals 2 & 4 look different according to the map...Those were simply "what if" scenarios for possible terminal expansions down the road, but they haven't even begun to think about THAT yet, for all intents and purposes.

(If you're curious, here are the different Terminal possibilities they've already sketched out: Preliminary Terminal Development Concepts)

In reality, the very next terminal project...whenever that may be...will undoubtedly be the creation of Concourse A, attached to the existing Terminal 1:




This particular project has already had a great deal of headway, up to & including the final Facility Environmental Assessment. Basically, as of this point, it's only short of County Commission approval to get moving.

(And if anyone cares, here's all associated information on said project: Concourse A and Group Check-In Facility)

Finally, Shoost, you also mentioned the decommissioning of the crosswind runway (13/31)...Yeah, as soon this new runway project gets rolling, 13/31's toast.

[brickell]

Originally Posted by MiamiMike

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.

I guess I'll play the contrarian on this one. FLL has taken a big bite out of the domestic market, but I think that has more to do with discount airlines available there. The landing fees are cheaper there from what I understand, but will that still be the case after this expansion? FLL is also making an effort to attract international flights, providing competition all around for MIA. The backups at FLL have gotten pretty bad lately (at least on flights I've been on) and I try to take MIA if I can. If MIA can attract a discount carrier or two I think we may see that dynamic change. A metrorail connection to MIA could (in theory) convince people that the more expensive domestic flights are worth it.

What I'm getting at is that it'll be great to have two good airports available, but I don't think the dynamics of them are as set in stone as others might. Maybe FTL beach bum can help shed some light on the subject.

[ftlauddude]

FAA endorses 2nd major runway at Fort Lauderdale airport

By Scott Wyman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
June 19, 2008


Plans to build a second major runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport cleared a major hurdle Wednesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration concluded that the airport's southern commuter runway should be lengthened to accommodate commercial airliners, recommitting itself to a project that has undergone two decades of debate and delay. However, the agency balked at limiting the runway's use to lessen noise over nearby homes as Broward County officials want.

In a concession to the county, the FAA agreed to almost double the area whose residents may receive financial aid to sound-proof their homes. More than 4,500 residents south and west of the airport would be eligible.


The project
The FAA favors extending the 5,276-foot runway to 8,000 feet, which would require it to cross above Federal Highway and the Florida East Coast Railroad.

At a cost of $784 million, the new runway would open by 2014 if there are no further delays. In addition to requiring a tunnel for the railroad and highway, the runway would slope slightly upward west to east to clear the train tracks. The current crosswind emergency runway would be closed.


The FAA's reasons
The agency concluded that the airport should be expanded to meet growing demand.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood is one of the nation's 35 busiest airports, and the number of passengers is expected to grow from 22.7 million last year to 30.8 million by 2020. Without a new runway, the FAA expects flight delays will top 26 minutes on average by 2020.

Impact on environment
More than 15 acres of wetlands between the airport and Port Everglades would be destroyed during construction. The airport would pay to offset the damage with improvements to West Lake Park in Hollywood.

Effect on residents
More than 2,500 residents live in areas where aircraft noise would be consistently at high levels because of the runway.

The FAA agreed to provide government assistance to soundproof not only those homes, but also less-affected parts of the same neighborhoods. Projects would include better windows and insulation.

The airport has set aside $33 million for assistance and will ask county commissioners in August for permission to begin a pilot program of soundproofing select homes.

What's happened so far
Public outcry in 2002 prompted county commissioners to retreat from the project, which was first proposed in 1987. They agreed to a major review, but re-endorsed the south runway last June.

The reaction
Critics charge that the FAA should have rejected the project as too damaging to the surrounding area. They also question the accuracy of air traffic projections, particularly as higher gas prices drive up the cost of airline tickets.

What's next
The FAA is accepting comments on its report through July 28 and will make a final decision this fall. That would allow the airport to begin design and construction work.


Source: www.sunsentinel.com

[ftlauddude]

Broward County wins victory in plan to extend airport runway

Broward County has scored a court victory in the long trudge toward building a longer runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.

County officials released a U.S. District Court of Appeals decision this week upholding the county's plan to expand a runway on the south side of the airport.

The loser in the court decision: the plaintiff, the city of Dania Beach.

County officials in December endorsed a 65-foot tall, sloped south runway that will be built over U.S. 1 and the train tracks. Drivers will pass under it through a tunnel.

Dania Beach residents and officials have fought the runway.

Broward has offered to soundproof homes and help homeowners sell if they want to flee. But Dania officials say that's not enough.

Residents argued in court that the county should not have discarded a rival plan to build the new runway on the airport's north side.

Dania officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday on whether they'll seek a re-hearing.

In the 29-page ruling, dated Dec. 28, the judges said ``we have little difficulty finding that there was nothing arbitrary or capricious'' about the Federal Aviation Administration's finding that building the runway on the north side of the airport was not ``prudent.''

The county hopes to complete the $791 million project in time for a Sept. 18, 2014, ribbon cutting.



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/0...#ixzz1AAqPBFQf

[ftlauddude]

This goes here...

Originally Posted by Obfuscatus

FLL debt downgraded due to runway project, increased costs and fees coming

http://www.bondbuyer.com/issues/120_...1026024-1.html

We should change the name of this thread and call it Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport so all the news related to it could be place in here...QuantumX, could you change it?

[Obfuscatus]

...

[spellbound]

How many sock-puppet names are you using, anyway? Is it just the two?

[spellbound]

Originally Posted by Obfuscatus

Flying PHL-FLL a few times a year does not make you an expert, and the local populace does not mimic your own travel patterns.

Roark, your non-existent knowledge of my travel patterns is a poor way to make a point.

Fact is, I use all three South Florida airports depending on the purpose of the trip and the "few times a year" is about every six weeks at this point.

Not that the specific details are any of your business, but the condensed version is that family issues (some of which, being Roark, you were aware of) have demanded that I take more of a hands-on role with our business, including meeting regularly with county officials. By the way, that would be in that obscure place "downtown Miami" that I'm supposedly so unfamiliar with.

Additionally, I'm still a property owner down there (and a responsible one, imagine that!) who makes sure things are taken care of personally. And then sometimes I even go down for actual relaxation, incredibly enough.

So the truth of the matter is that I'm in Miami and South Florida FAR more than you imagine (emphasis on the imagine). You'll have to forgive me for failing to e-mail you my itinerary in advance.

[Obfuscatus]

...

[spellbound]

Fine. Neither one is "dominant." Happy now?

Sheesh.

The bottom line for me is that I hope BOTH airports thrive, just as I wish success for both the Port of Miami and Port Everglades. South Florida's economy is an interconnected whole, not independant fiefdoms. I think some of the 'Dade versus Broward' undercurrent to much of these conversations is silly and, frankly, a tad juvenile.

As for the 'travel patterns' of South Floridians, that's mostly a matter of geography---a least with domestic travel. Hard to imagine why someone from Homestead wouldn't use MIA for a flight to, say, Boston just as there'd be little reason for someone from Pompano to not use FLL for the same destination.

Me? I just want to get where I'm going at the best price. Could care less whether it's MIA/FLL/PBI or Timbuktu International. Flying is a pain in the ass these days regardless of which airport it is!

[QuantumX]

[miami305]

Originally Posted by spellbound

Fine. Neither one is "dominant." Happy now?

Sheesh.

The bottom line for me is that I hope BOTH airports thrive, just as I wish success for both the Port of Miami and Port Everglades. South Florida's economy is an interconnected whole, not independant fiefdoms. I think some of the 'Dade versus Broward' undercurrent to much of these conversations is silly and, frankly, a tad juvenile.

As for the 'travel patterns' of South Floridians, that's mostly a matter of geography---a least with domestic travel. Hard to imagine why someone from Homestead wouldn't use MIA for a flight to, say, Boston just as there'd be little reason for someone from Pompano to not use FLL for the same destination.

Me? I just want to get where I'm going at the best price. Could care less whether it's MIA/FLL/PBI or Timbuktu International. Flying is a pain in the ass these days regardless of which airport it is!

I agreed....travel nowdays is a pain in the behind...but I agree with you...I live in Sunny Isles...and when I travel overseas...I usually fly out of MIA....and when I travel domesticly...I use FLL. I am pretty sure a lot of people do the same....I guess is great to have options nowadays.

[ftlauddude]

Originally Posted by QuantumX

Thanks!

Originally Posted by miami305

I agreed....travel nowdays is a pain in the behind...but I agree with you...I live in Sunny Isles...and when I travel overseas...I usually fly out of MIA....and when I travel domesticly...I use FLL. I am pretty sure a lot of people do the same....I guess is great to have options nowadays.

I agree with you! MIA is for international destinations and FLL for domestic flights. Sometimes price differences between the two could be huge--FLL being almost always cheaper.

Now, I haven't used PBI 'cause in every search, it ends up being the most expensive of the three in our metro area. Is it good?

Originally Posted by spellbound

As for the 'travel patterns' of South Floridians, that's mostly a matter of geography---a least with domestic travel. Hard to imagine why someone from Homestead wouldn't use MIA for a flight to, say, Boston just as there'd be little reason for someone from Pompano to not use FLL for the same destination.

Me? I just want to get where I'm going at the best price. Could care less whether it's MIA/FLL/PBI or Timbuktu International. Flying is a pain in the ass these days regardless of which airport it is!

Nowadays, people tend to do like you. I know a lot of folks who live in south Dade that don't mind using FLL, especially since they can take the commuter and be there in 45 mins...

[Hia-leah JDM]

I fly up to New York pretty regularly, and MIA has almost always been cheaper. When I flew up to DC in October, MIA was cheaper. The past year I've flown between Miami and Jacksonville several times and MIA is always cheaper. I don't know if it just happens to be my cases, but I've only had to used FLL once (never using Spirit Airlines again).

[HavanaMiami1977]

Not only you it happens to me frequently , About two years ago I dont know what happened but MIA is cheaper than FLL,, and Spirit they are no low cost anymore they have fees for everything.

[Andyxox]

Originally Posted by ftlauddude

Now, I haven't used PBI 'cause in every search, it ends up being the most expensive of the three in our metro area. Is it good?

PBI is actually a really good airport, a few years back it was rated in the top 10 airports in the nation for a few categories. I like PBI because it is a very capable airport that feels much smaller, it is very very easy to get in and out of. Generally flights to NY/NJ are dirt cheap, too.

[ftlauddude]

Originally Posted by Hia-leah JDM

I fly up to New York pretty regularly, and MIA has almost always been cheaper. When I flew up to DC in October, MIA was cheaper. The past year I've flown between Miami and Jacksonville several times and MIA is always cheaper. I don't know if it just happens to be my cases, but I've only had to used FLL once (never using Spirit Airlines again).

Originally Posted by HavanaMiami1977

Not only you it happens to me frequently , About two years ago I dont know what happened but MIA is cheaper than FLL,, and Spirit they are no low cost anymore they have fees for everything.

Maybe it's because I always flight with AA (I'm a milleage freak)...I was looking for prices to go to ANC and it was like almost $200 from one airport to the other. MIA has more direct flights that's for sure while @ FLL you'll almost always stop @ DFW...

[Obfuscatus]

...

[spellbound]

Originally Posted by Obfuscatus

If you live within a reasonable drive of PBI, and are flying to a destination that is served out of PBI, then PBI is definitely the most pleasant of the three Miami metro airports.

Agreed it's the easiest, especially since the direct access ramp from 95 was completed.

Probably use FLL the most, but PBI is a snap and serves a LOT of the domestic market these days.

I like using "secondary" airports when the opportunity is there. Just less hassle and often a better price. Last Summer, I used Atlantic City instead of PHL for a quick vacation up in Maine. 29 bucks to Boston and I was through security and at the gate no more than 10 minutes after parking. Gotta like that!