The city of Philadelphia has signed an agreement with Delaware County, Tinicum Township and the Interboro School District that resolves tax litigation and approves land acquisition that will support the multi-billion dollar Capacity Enhancement Program at Philadelphia International (PHL).
The agreement addresses concerns of Tinicum officials and includes provisions that allow the airport to move forward with portions of its expansion plan in Delaware County without the need to acquire 72 Tinicum Township homes and relocate nearly 300 residents.
“The multi-billion dollar Capacity Enhancement Program for Philadelphia International Airport was initiated to improve passenger experiences, accommodate future growth and expand our role as a leader in global air travel,” says Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. “Our regional competitiveness, the economy of the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the growth of businesses and jobs in our great city are directly tied to the success of the airport.”
Under the terms of the deal, PHL will resume payments to Delaware County neighbors that ceased after a previous agreement expired in 2007. The city and Tinicum have agreed to a 50-year lease/purchase of Hog Island Road and the currently leased Runway Safety Area. These items enable all parties to move forward from litigation and provide a framework to prevent future similar situations with regard to the expansion project, airport officials say.
The Capacity Enhancement Program is designed to modernize PHL over the next 12 to 15 years by investing in airfield, terminal and cargo projects that are expected to improve operational efficiencies, enhance customer experiences and increase global connectivity across the region.
