EPA update

Well, when the last commercial carriers (i think it was US Air) pulled out
a few years back, Worcester airport started having substantial financial
problems. Massport essentially bailed it out. The city was having to
support the airport with some general fund moneys. The airport is still
losing money, and Massport is phasing out its assistance over the next two
or three years. I think the city will need to make some serious decisions
then, unless they can attract more business.

As I understand it, the airport was built as a combined GA/commercial
facility. Commercials business plan was to go to cheaper airport than
Logan, but nearby and convenient to the Boston burbs and all the colleges
in Worcester. Seemed to make sense.

I think there were two problems. 1. The worcester tolerances. As I
understand it, the Worcester area gets some pretty weird wintertime
weather compared to the rest of the state, so there were frequent
closures. 2. No good road network out of the airport. Need to drive
through residential areas.

So the airport got built for commercials/GA, and the commercials pulled
out. Now financial problems. Not exactly rocket science with 20/20
hindsight.

Our problems here are different, but similar. They want to expand to
commercial-- we here its FedEx. Problem: GA airport, located in
residential area, expanding for commercial capability. Some of us are
fighting it.