SEAPLANE PLAN GETS PUSHBACK
Residents point to pollution and crowds
Residents of East and South Boston — including a Massport board member — are pushing back at the idea of seaplanes flying into Boston Harbor, predicting more noise, pollution and dangerous crowding of an increasingly busy seaport area.
“We’re dredging the harbor to increase maritime use, renovating docks at Conley Terminal to accommodate more and bigger cruise ships — I really can’t envision seaplanes with the kind of activity we’re hoping for,” Massport board member John Nucci of East Boston told the Herald. “Unless someone does a very good job of convincing me, I don’t see how this fits.”
City Hall’s bid for Amazon’s second headquarters promised to establish seaplane operations to provide service between the Hub and New York City. City officials have been speaking with Amazon executives about the bid this week, after Boston was named one of 20 finalists to host HQ2, while a Florida-based seaplane group has met with local officials about harbor operations, the Herald reported yesterday.
The seaplane service offer in Boston’s bid is similar to a promise city and state officials made to General Electric to provide a helipad in order to lure that company to relocate to Fort Point in 2016. Furious South Boston residents resisted the helipad at public meetings and plans were shelved, and neighborhood activists say they’ll come out again to fight seaplanes.
“We’re not adding more airplane noise, fumes and pollution and hurting the safety of those in Boston Harbor,” said Laura McDonagh, adding that the limited seating capacity of seaplanes means they would likely only benefit corporate executives.
“There’s no need for a seaplane for Amazon, just like there’s no need for a heliport. From here to New York City? Give me a break,” McDonagh said. “Suck it up, buttercup, you can take a plane like the rest of us.”
Nucci, a lifelong Eastie resident, said he was worried about how “planes buzzing around” would affect the quality of life for residents near the harbor and said other transportation problems should take priority.
Massport does not have regulatory powers regarding seaplanes — the Federal Aviation Administration and the Coast Guard would have to approve any seaplane routes. An FAA spokesman said it is not currently working with any seaplane service and a Coast Guard spokesman said the safety and security of the harbor would be considered.
McDonagh, whose son is a boat captain, said she’s concerned about confusion over what areas that boats, especially recreational ones, would need to avoid to stay out of the way of descending planes.
“Bikes and cars don’t get along, how the heck are kayakers and seaplanes going to get along?” McDonagh asked.