U.S Senators Join Protest Against Trenton-Mercer Airport Expansion

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — U.S. Senators John Fetterman (PA) and Robert Casey Jr. (PA) recently residents in their protest against the expansion of the Trenton-Mercer County Airport.

The senators sent a joint letter urging Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Acting FAA Administrator Polly Trottenberg to give "full and fair consideration to the concerns of Bucks County residents" directly impacted by the proposed Trenton-Mercer Airport expansion.

Residents want all work on the airport to stop until further environmental studies can be conducted.

"While this project is taking place in New Jersey, Bucks County residents strongly believe the impacts will reach across the Delaware River and into communities in our home Commonwealth," Casey and Fetterman state in the joint letter. "We fully understand the need to provide a safer, more accessible experience to the many residents and travelers who utilize TTN; however, we have heard from our constituents that they are concerned about the negative potential impacts of this project. Our understanding is that their main concerns include air, noise, and water pollution. Given this region’s history of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) contamination, we want to echo the sensitivities of these residents to possible additional exposure and assure all appropriate environmental assessments were deployed."

The action by the two senators follows U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, who also appealed to Buttigieg in an official letter demanding that federal funding for the project be halted. He also testified before a House Committee to express concerns about the expansion.

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10), state Rep. Perry Warren (D-31), the Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors, and the Yardley Borough Council have also sent similar letters that federal funding should be halted until the health and environmental impacts of the expansion project are thoroughly studied.

"Our communities sit a few miles from the airport, on the other side of the Delaware River and the expansion will undoubtedly affect our residents," Yardley Council President Caroline Thompson read in the borough's letter at a recent meeting.

In April, Buttigieg visited the airport, which has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to quadruple the size of its current passenger terminal.

Trenton Threatened Skies and associated public advocacy groups, commercial interests, and community associations are pressing a campaign to get further political support from both sides of the Delaware River against the expansion.

Last year, Santarsiero appealed to N.J. DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette to intervene in matters related to TTN's failure to comply with environmental laws.

The FAA's Reauthorization Bill is currently making its way through Congress with changes that reduce citizens' rights in favor of aviation commercial interests, and the launch of an FAA evaluation of aircraft noise standards.

"We understand that the FAA’s FONSI is currently under review in federal court. While the case is being considered, we want to independently express our desire to see continued communication between the DOT, the FAA, and communities in Pennsylvania," the letter concludes. "Regardless of the resolution to that case, we believe that the best path forward for this project is one that will involve ample opportunity for input and dialogue to ensure that there is an adequate understanding of how future changes at TTN impact all residents of the region."

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