Public consultation is seriously flawed for the island airport runway extension.
On Tuesday, September 24 the City is holding a public meeting about how to meet new safety requirements for the island airport runway. Ports Toronto is rushing through their proposal for a new landfill at both ends of the runway to allow commercial planes to keep operating – even though other options were on the table.
Yet this is the only public consultation, hosted by the city, which was announced only a week ago. There will not even be a link for people to attend virtually. Yet this public meeting is intended to help city staff finalize their report whether ‘to landfill or not to landfill’.
The whole process is deeply flawed. But your voice does matter! So register to attend the meeting if you are able, fill in the two important questions in the survey and read the background discussion paper.
The survey will ask:
What do you see as the top 1-2 factors for the City to consider when reviewing the Runway End Safety Area (RESA) options? Why? Potential factors could include: waterfront revitalization, environmental impact, timing, cost, other?
In the coming months, the City of Toronto will be engaging with Ports Toronto as it updates its plans for how the island airport will operate and function in the future. What kind of issues do you think should be considered during this discussion? What is your overall vision of Toronto’s waterfront?
Provide your comments by filling out the City’s survey regarding the Runway End Safety Area (RESA) at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
In-Person Public Meeting - Runway End Safety Area (RESA) at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Enercare Centre, Salon 105
Exhibition Place
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Doors open 6:30 p.m.
Presentation and discussion 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Please register for the meeting
Background
Transport Canada requires Canadian airports that service 325,000 passengers for two consecutive years to implement Runway End Safety Area (RESA) within three years. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will meet this threshold in June 2024. This will trigger the RESA requirement which will need to be met by 2027.
RESA is a cleared and graded area of land located immediately beyond the end of the runway. RESAs are located at both ends of runways and are designated areas of open space designed to be used in cases where aircraft overrun the end of a runway or undershoot and land prior to the runway for safety purposes.
Another solution is to make the stopping area on the existing runway length (EMAS) but this would require flying smaller planes or smaller loads on the Q400 planes as the runway would be shortened. However, no fill would then be required to be added into the lake.
Context
This is a public consultation meeting about the need for safety zones at both ends of the runway. A RESA would require filling into the lake and harbour, extending the airport’s “no-go” zones at either end, further limiting water access for boats, kayaks and other watercraft.
There’s an upcoming debate at City Hall. That debate has two important dates: June 30, 2033, when the City’s dollar-a-year lease ends, and, likely June of 2027, when the Runway End Safety Area requirement comes into force – requiring an investment of $50M to $130M to meet that requirement, according to Ports Toronto.
Is the Airport popular? It is losing business hand over foot to Pearson (The Island Airport’s number of passengers declined by 27% in 2023 from 2019, pre-COVID – Pearson dropped just 11% over the same period)? And Porter and Air Canada have drastically cut back their flights out of the Island Airport – from a peak of 202 daily landings and takeoffs to about 110, depending on the day.
Finally, a RESA means opening the Tripartite Agreement which allows the airport to exist. Now it ends in 2033. If it is opened to facilitate this change, PortsToronto will want a new agreement to run it for many more years to recoup their costs.
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