Ground Crew at Logan Airport, via Flickr user srice13
CLF negotiations lead to greener, more accessible airport
May 18, 2017 (BOSTON, MA) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) to offset the proposed parking expansion at Logan Airport with several measures that will increase accessibility, promote public transit, and reduce emissions associated with airport travel and maintenance. In addition to creating 5,000 new parking spaces, Massport has committed to full electrification within ten years of all ground service equipment for which electric alternatives are commercially available, a significant expansion in capacity and access for the Silver Line and Logan Express services, free T access for certain airport employees, and a substantial increase in passengers reaching the airport in high occupancy vehicles.
“Logan Airport is both a major gateway to New England and a microcosm of the region’s climate, pollution, and transportation challenges,” said CLF President Bradley Campbell. “With this landmark agreement, Logan moves to the head of the class in reducing airport soot, smog, and greenhouse gas emissions, while improving the experience of air travelers and the health of neighboring communities.”
Logan Airport’s plan to replace all gas-powered service equipment with electric alternatives over the next 10 years makes it the first airport in the United States to make such a commitment.
“CLF has been a great regional advocate for the health and safety of New Englanders for the past 50 years,” said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. “Working together we thought outside the box and developed a larger strategy to reduce vehicle trips to and from the airport, a move that will benefit the surrounding communities for decades to come.”
A copy of the comment letter CLF submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection can be found here.
CLF and Massport experts are available for further comment.
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