Schumer, Gillibrand announce funds for aircraft noise study of La Guardia Airport

Bill San Antonio

U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have announced $3.1 million in federal funding for an aircraft noise study of the communities surrounding La Guardia Airport, a little more than a week since they announced similar funds for a study at John F. Kennedy Airport.

The Part 150 study would evaluate the impact of noise on the areas and create a mitigation plan that may be eligible for federal funding, the federal officials said in a joint news release.

Schumer in a statement called on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to expedite the study, saying it would “evaluate the best ways to address airplane noise-related issues in the communities surrounding La Guardia Airport.”

Gillibrand added the $3,178,739 funding, made through the Department of Transportation, is “an important step in our work to help alleviate the concerns of our neighbors in Queens and on Long Island.”

Aircraft noise has been a frequent source of complaints for Queens and Long Island residents.

Several North Shore-area villages and elected officials have actively campaigned for a Part 150 study, as the frequent use of runways often requires planes cross regional airspace during overnight hours.

The study would be comprised of various public outreach initiatives, including public meetings and hearings, aimed at understanding the locations near the airport with the highest concentration of noise and finding alternative procedures for limiting sound.

The California-based environmental consulting firm Environmental Science Associates was awarded an $8 million contract last year to conduct the study, which was due to take place between October 2014 and August 2017.

In addition to the study, the Port Authority has installed a flight-tracking system on its website so residents can follow flight paths and the decibel levels of aircraft passing over their communities, officials said.

The agency also plans to double the number of noise monitors at JFK and LaGuardia airports.

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