RDU Airport News
Federal Express chose the Greensboro airport instead of RDU and other airports for their cargo hub. This has
many area residents cheering while many members of the Chamber of Commerce are left scratching their heads.
UMSTEAD COALITION STATEMENT TO THE WAKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - 3/9/98
At a meeting on March 5th, the Board of Directors of the Umstead Coalition voted to express opposition to the
establishment of the Federal Express hub at RDU Airport.
A sub-committee of the Umstead Coalition previously met with representatives of the Airport Authority and the
RDU staff. At that meeting the RDU staff provided information on the proposal made to FedEx. This included the
intent to construct a road from Highway 70 to the proposed FedEx building. Subsequently, the Umstead Coalition
contacted FedEx requesting information on the relationship of truck and aircraft usage at the proposed terminal.
We received a courteous but uninformative reply from FedEx to the effect that they intend to comply "with
all appropriate environmental laws and regulations."
It seems likely that a major impact on Umstead Park and its users would be from construction and from the traffic
on this road. The initial estimate is that 100-125 trucks per day will traverse it. Presumably this means that
they will pass a given point twice - on entering and exit. If growth of this traffic is proportional to predicted
aircraft usage, the traffic could reach 1000 trips per day. It is also our understanding that it is FedEx practice
to use trucks rather than aircraft for week-end deliveries. Thus the traffic would be at a maximum at those times
when Umstead Park is most used and enjoyed by the residents of the Triangle.
It is the potential degradation of the environment of Umstead Park by this truck traffic on a road immediately
adjacent to the Park which concerns us and is the reason for our decision to oppose the establishment of the hub
at RDU.
The issue of aircraft noise is another concern. The Airport Authority have stated that they can add the FedEx
flights without exceeding current noise budgets, but already the measured RDU noise levels show the 55LDN contour
extending into the Park. This level of noise has been recognized by Federal courts as the taking of Public Lands.
If the truck noise is considered, a airport contribution, this unacceptable level will extend farther into the
Park.
The noise from night flights will disturb the sleep of many citizens of the Triangle inside their homes. In
the campground of Umstead Park the disturbance will be much worse. We oppose the establishment of the FedEx hub,
we are confident that most of our fellow citizens share our view.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jean Spooner
rev. 3/27/01
|