Michael Cheston, executive director of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC), has told the governor that the state should search out land for the development of a second major airport. That search, suggests Cheston, should begin immediately, so the state will be prepared for the very real possibility that an additional airport will be necessary within two decades.
We believe the state would be wise to follow Cheston’s advice.
T.F. Green Airport is a terrific success story – an economic generator and one of the true jewels of this state. To find a business or leisure traveler who would prefer to fly out of Boston’s Logan International Airport is indeed a rarity. But T.F. Green is also at a crossroads. Its runways need to be expanded — not only to keep up with existing demand, but also to capitalize on new opportunities.
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It appears such expansion will take place, though elected officials and residents of Warwick and Cranston oppose the idea on the grounds that traffic congestion and adverse environmental impacts are already getting out of control.
Cheston’s suggestion – specifically that the governor convene a "blue ribbon panel of state planners and elected officials" to find a suitable site — is a reasonable one.
At recent public hearings, Cheston has borne the brunt of vehement opposition to the idea of airport expansion. While T.F. Green may have room to expand to a limited degree now, Cheston and RIAC’s board of directors realize that its capacity is quickly nearing a saturation point.
T.F. Green gives Rhode Island a real competitive advantage over its neighbors in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Its location – and the ease with which a traveler can get from the highway to the terminal — is a lure when it comes to recruiting new businesses to Rhode Island, or in convincing existing ones to expand, or simply stay here.
Planning now for what our air travel resources will look like in 2025 is prudent. It also should come as no surprise. Talk of building an airport at Quonset Point or in one of Rhode Island rural communities off Route 95 her persisted for years.
Formalizing those conversations now should bring some very interesting ideas to the forefront. We commend Michael Cheston for starting the process.
Fast track back on line
– finally
The House recently gave its blessing to the President to carry the authority to negotiate trade deals that cannot be amended in Congress. It’s about time. The power was dangled in front of Bill Clinton for eight years, and while he chased after it in vain U.S. business lost out on opportunities abroad.
Since 1994, this country has been a step behind most of its international competition, countries that knew it made sense to give their leaders the power to act swiftly and confidently.
With this power – once referred to as fast-track authority – President Bush can negotiate deals knowing that they won’t be altered. Congress has the right to either give a trade proposal a thumbs up or thumbs down. Sounds like a rational idea, yes? In fact, it worked for 24 years and was wielded by five other presidents before the authority expired in 1994.
For lawmakers, including Democrats, the fear of giving Clinton this vital tool was that trade-friendly measures equal a loss of American jobs. Fast-track legislation finally received the votes in the House on July 27 (the Senate was expected to pass it last week) after being included in a trade package with a program to subsidize health insurance costs for Americans who lose their jobs to overseas competition — another good idea.
It’s too bad that it took instability on Wall Street and a generally weak economy to pressure lawmakers to get the deal done. What we will never know is what U.S. businesses missed out on while the House stalled.
Larry Liebenow, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, who lives in Providence, said when he was named to the post two months ago that pushing for trade promotion authority would top his agenda during his one-year term. It’s critical to businesses looking to go global, he told Providence Business News recently.
As the top executive of Fall River’s Quaker Fabric Corp. he knows first hand the importance of looking beyond borders. Twenty percent of the fabric that leaves Quaker’s plants is shipped to more than 40 countries. That number could be higher for Quaker and hundreds of other U.S. companies.
"It always amazes me how irresponsible Congress in particular has been in dealing with trade issues. We live in a global market. That’s not going to change," Liebenow said.
No, it’s not going to change. At least now Liebenow and business leaders like him no longer have to waste time preaching the obvious.
