For BDU we want...
Local Control
What does local control mean for the people of Boulder?
Do not take FAA money without citizen approval.
Do not allow airport expansion without citizen approval.
Do not give money to the airport without citizen approval.
Do not take FAA money without citizen approval.
Do not allow airport expansion without citizen approval.
Do not give money to the airport without citizen approval.
Reasonable limits that reflect community concerns
While wresting local control from the FAA is a long process, there are actions that could be pursued immediately that, if implemented, could assert some local values and provide some relief to residents, such as:
- DO NOT take FAA funds to develop the Master Plan, which would thereby obligate us to 20 more years of FAA dictatorship.
- Develop the plan independently.
- Stop selling leaded fuel
- Institute landing fees, so users pay their fair share
- Raise rents, usage and flow fees to market rates
- Establish and actively and firmly champion noise abatement procedures technologies and expectations
- Install a geofence to identify and pressure violators
- Require BDU based planes to use quiet propellers
- Require BDU based planes to have mufflers
- Insist that pilots display identification at all times while flying, report those who don't to the FAA, push for enforcement
Honest, complete cost/benefit economic data
While BDU economic benefits are regularly touted, we lack concrete information. Boulder leadership and residents do not truly understand the economics of BDU. In order to make meaningful decisions, we need to understand:
Who is served by BDU? Who are tenants and other users? How many of them are there? What are they paying for what they get?
How much money does BDU earn every year? For what services and operations? Where does that money go?
How much federal, state, county, and municipal money has BDU received over the past 10 years?
What is the value of other subsidies BDU has received, such as free land? (What if BDU had to pay for land?)
What are the estimated pollution costs? Emissions, including lead, carbon, particulates, noise, etc.
What other hidden constraints are imposed by BDU, such as those imposed by the BDU "risk zones"? (See Andrus bike path.)
What is the true, documented, cost/benefit trade off in decomissioning BDU?
What are the opportunity costs of hosting BDU? If BDU land was used for other purposes, how much would the city gain?
Who is served by BDU? Who are tenants and other users? How many of them are there? What are they paying for what they get?
How much money does BDU earn every year? For what services and operations? Where does that money go?
How much federal, state, county, and municipal money has BDU received over the past 10 years?
What is the value of other subsidies BDU has received, such as free land? (What if BDU had to pay for land?)
What are the estimated pollution costs? Emissions, including lead, carbon, particulates, noise, etc.
What other hidden constraints are imposed by BDU, such as those imposed by the BDU "risk zones"? (See Andrus bike path.)
What is the true, documented, cost/benefit trade off in decomissioning BDU?
What are the opportunity costs of hosting BDU? If BDU land was used for other purposes, how much would the city gain?
A land use study
Boulder Municipal Airport (BDU) sits on approximately 133 prime acres of City land, 3 miles from downtown Boulder. The FAA owns an additional 49 acres, approximately.
Is this the best use of this land? Does this land serve a reasonable number of Boulder residents? Should the airport scope and operations be expanded or scaled back? Should alternative uses be considered? Now is the time to thoughtfully answer these questions.
It has been proposed that BDU acreage could provide more income for the city and a greater benefit to residents by being used differently than it is now. There are many possibilities. The airport could be downsized or even decommissioned and the land used for other purposes, such as housing, commerce, parks, education, recreation, etc. Or maybe put a CU campus there in exchange for saving the CU South wetlands.
Like Glenwood Springs has done, Boulder should contract an independent study of the costs and benefits of alternative uses of airport land.
Is this the best use of this land? Does this land serve a reasonable number of Boulder residents? Should the airport scope and operations be expanded or scaled back? Should alternative uses be considered? Now is the time to thoughtfully answer these questions.
It has been proposed that BDU acreage could provide more income for the city and a greater benefit to residents by being used differently than it is now. There are many possibilities. The airport could be downsized or even decommissioned and the land used for other purposes, such as housing, commerce, parks, education, recreation, etc. Or maybe put a CU campus there in exchange for saving the CU South wetlands.
Like Glenwood Springs has done, Boulder should contract an independent study of the costs and benefits of alternative uses of airport land.