FEB 03 1998 Massactjusetts Univcsity of C .?V Depository Barnes Massachusetts Conneciicut 1 J ^ Bradley International Airport A Determination of the ECONOMIC Contributions OF WESTOVER, BARNES AND BRADLEY AIRPORTS TO THE PIONEER VALLEY REGION Preparedfor: Preparedby: Underthe supervision of: The GreaterSpringfield The Department of The PioneerValley ChamberofCommerce Landscape Planning Commission & Architecture 26 Central Street Regional Planning West Springfield 0^ University ofMassachusetts Massachusetts, 01089 -f'y , Amherst UMASS/AMHERSt July 1994 FINAL REPORT A DETERMINATION OF THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF WESTOVER, BARNES AND BRADLEY AIRPORTS TO THE PIONEER VALLEY REGION Prepared for: The Greater Springfield Chamber ofCommerce Prepared by: & The Department ofLandscape Architecture Regional Planning University ofMassachusetts,Amherst Under the supervision of: The PioneerValley Planning Commission 26 Central Street West Springfield, Massachusetts, 01089 July 1994 Digitized by the Internet Archive 2015 in https://archive.org/details/determinationofeOOpion ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The research and analyses presented inthis final report was underwritten by a grant to the University ofMassachusetts by the GreaterSpringfield ChamberofCommerce. The project was overseenby the Chamber's SeniorVice President, Charles Hill. The writing, production and printing ofthis report was financed by the PioneerValley Planning Commissionunderthe directionofthe Commission's Executive Director,Timothy Brennan. The completionofthis final report would nothave beenpossible withoutthe active participation and support ofthe Chairman and members ofthe Regional Airport Sub-Committee ofthe Spring- field Chamber. Additional funding was provided by Western Massachusetts Electric Company, WestoverMetropolitan Development Corporation, Baystate Health Systems, Westfield/Bames MimicipalAirport and Bulkey, Richardson and Gelinas. In particular, we would like to acknowl- edge and salute the efforts ofthe following persons: REGIONALAIRPORTS SUB-COMMITTEE Michael Daly, Chairman RobertAbair, WesternMassachusettsElectric Company Allan Blair, WestoverMetropolitan Development Corporation Timothy Brennan,Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Col. James Czekanski, WestoverAirReserve Base Michael Daly, BaystateHealth SystemsInc. JohnGallup, GreaterSpringfield ChamberofCommerce George Gifford, WestfieldlBarnesMunicipalAirport Tom Glynn, GreaterSpringfield ChamberofCommerce JohnGarvey, Garvey Communications, Inc. Marc Hanks, Economic DevelopmentPartners RobertJuliano, Bradley InternationalAirport Kermeth Robert, Bradley InternationalAirport Jeffrey Roberts, Robinson, Donovan, Madden andBarry, P.C. James L. Shriver, Greater Springfield ChamberofCommerce Bruce Stebbins,Massachusetts Executive Office ofEconomicAffairs Ronald Weiss, Bulkey, Richardson andGelinas Charles Hill, GreaterSpringfield ChamberofCommerce (Staff) STAFF CREDITS Writing andResearch: ProfessorJohn Mulhn, University ofMassachusetts Terri Smith, ResearchAssistant, University ofMassachusetts Francesca Maltese, PioneerValley Planning Commission Additional Writing: Allan Blair, WestoverMetropolitan Development Corporation John Garvey, Garvey Communications, Inc. George Gifford, Westfield/Bames MunicipalAirport Graphics and Design Shaun Hayes, PioneerValley Planning Commission Coordination: Catherine Gibbs, PioneerValley Planning Commission Report Editing and Timothy Brennan, PioneerValley Planning Commission Coordination: ReportPreparation Denise Lussier, PioneerValley Planning Commission and Typing: 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. 1 INTRODUCTION 3 BENEHTS AND IMPACTS 5 Direct Impacts 5 Jobs and Payroll 5 Local Purchases and Construction 6 Indirect Impacts 6 Induced Impacts 7 Total Impacts 7 Transportation Benefits 8 Taxes 8 Aircraft 8 Property 8 BRADLEY INTERNATIONALAIRPORT History 9 ExistingFacilities/Level ofService 9 Economic Impacts 1 Direct Impacts 11 Indirect Impacts 12 Induced Impacts 12 Total Impacts 13 Future Plans 13 BARNES MUNICIPALAIRPORT History 15 Existing Facilities 15 ServiceArea 16 Economic Impact 16 Direct Impacts 16 Indirect Impacts 17 Induced Impacts 17 Total Impacts 17 Future Plans 17 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE/ WESTOVER METROPOLITAN AIRPORT History 18 Existing FacilitiesA^evel ofService 1 Economic Impact 19 Direct Impacts 19 Economic Impact (ofcompanies that rated airportessential) 20 Indirect Impacts 20 Induced Impacts 20 Total Impacts 20 AirForce Current Contribution to the Physical Plant ofWestover. 20 Runway/Airfield Maintenance 20 Fire Protection 21 Future Plans 21 LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1 Summary ofDirectEconomic Impacts 6 Table 2 Summary ofIndirectEconomic Impacts 7 Table 3 Summary ofInduced Economic Impacts 7 Table 4 Summary ofEconomic Impact 7 Table 5 Summary Economic Impacts 7 Table 6 1992 Operations at Bradley InternationalAirport 10 Table 7 Annual Economic Contribution - Bradley InternationalAirport 12 Table 8 HistoricalAircraft Operations at Bradley InternationalAirport 14 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Summary Executive Airports are Major Contributors to the Pioneer Valley Economy Military Spending Currently Has the Most Economic Impact Foranumberofyears, Westover, Barnes and BradleyAirports have provided area residents and With a combined payroll of$60.6 million, military businesses with passengertravel, cargo shipping and personnel account formore than 75 percent ofthe recreational opportunities and benefits. The quiet payroll expenditure ofthe three airports addressed secret; however, is themajoreconomic impact that inthis report. Utilizing data supplied by the Massa- these three airports have on the PioneerValley. chusetts DepartmentofEmployment, it would take the addition of2,014 manufacturingjobs, 4,790 Fueled by $92.9 million indirect annual spending, retail tradejobs, or2,770 servicejobs to replace the the three airports servingthe civilian and military local military payroll should itbe lost. interests ofthePioneerValley combine for an impressive total economic impact of$485.64 The military has even alargereconomic impact millionperyear. Further, local residents and when the spending onlocal purchases and construc- businesses save an additional $6.36 million by tion is factored in. During 1992 alone, it is esti- utilizing the convenience ofthe region's major mated that $12.17 million was spentby the military commercial passenger airport namely Bradley onlocal purchases andconstruction woric. InternationalAirport, situated innearbyWindsor Locks Connecticut Finally, the military provides tremendous financial supportto the Barnes and WestoverAirports by The three are also among the region's topemployers making improvements and maintaining the runways, withover 1,800PioneerValley residents owingtheir as well as providing othernecessary support ser- jobs directly to the airports. When thesejobs are vices including a fire department forWestover combined with the federal payrolls atWestover and which has a $3,451,034 operating budget and $17 Barnes, the total payroll by way ofcomparison is million worth ofequipment. Annual maintenance approximately halfofthe total payroll forthe figures forWestoveralone were approximately region's printing and publishing industry, is almost $647,400 in FY 1993, not including capital im- twice that ofthe legal services industry and is twice provements. When Westover's mammoth total the regional payroll forthe electronic equipment military impact is combined with its relatively small industry. total civilian impact, the $303.69 million sum dwarfs the total economic impacts ofthe othertwo airports serving this region. Clearly, in the PioneerValley, the impact ofmilitary spending outweighs any othercurrent economic benefit ofthe region's airports. 1 ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF AIRPORTS TO THE PIONEER VALLEY REGION Civilian usage ofthe airport is supported by both Individual Airport Economic Impacts recreational and business users with 175 civilian aircraft stored there. Seven businesses reported that Bradley International Airport they considerthe airport essential to theirbusiness. Bradley, with its previously mentioned convenience Those businesses combine foratotal of417jobs ofuse forpassengerand cargo services, weighs in as with an annual payroll of$9.34 million. Several a sizable presence in the PioneerValley's economic otherlocal businesses use the airporton a regular profile. An estimated 442 employees ofBradley basis as well. live in this area and at least 13 percent ofthe travel related business generated by the airport is attribut- able to this region. Bradley's total annual economic impactis estimated at $67.82 million forthe Pioneer Valley Region. Future Economic Impact and Growth ofthe Region's Airports WestoverAir Force Reserve Base and Metropolitan Airport Like all public infrastructure, airports provide a As previously mentioned, Westover's combined foundation on which the economy can grow. Their military and civilian total impacts represents 62.5 usefulness to the economy lies in their ability to percent ofthe total economic impactofall three generate, support and serve residents and existing airports forthe pioneerValley Region. businesses and spawn airport related industry. Military spending represents the bulk ofWestover's Each airporthas outlined plans to increase their total economic impact. With an estimated 536 ability to serve the region's residential and business reserve technicians, 537 civilian employees and interests. Bradley's expansion plans project an 3,100 part-time reservists, the federal payroll alone increase in local employmentof617 additionaljobs at Westover amounts to $56.7 million. An addi- by the year2015. The total economic impact on the tional $10.89 million was spent locally on construc- region is expected to triple by thattime as well. tion, government contracts and otherpurchases. Westover, through the WestoverMetropolitan Development Corporation and local business On the civilian use side, 57 business tenants ofthe interests, is pursuing an expansion ofthe hours of WestoverMetropolitan Development Corporation operation to increase civilian use and to attract hangartheirplanes at the airport. Two corporate airport related industry. Westover will soon embaric tenants indicated that the airport was essential to on substantial infrastructure improvements which theirbusiness. These two businesses account for a will enhance its total economic impact on the combined 26jobs with an annual payroll of$2.36 Region's economy. million. Several otherlocal businesses regularly use the airport as well. There were an estimated 3,864 civilian takeoffs and landings atWestoverin 1992. Barnes Municipal Airport BarnesAirport also attributes the size ofits total economic impact largely to military spending. It is estimated that 90 percent ofthe airport's $114.3 million total economic impact is due to the presence ofthe AirNational Guard. With 1,318 full and part- time employees, the total military payroll equals $12.65 million. 2