The Wayne County Airport Authority board last week postponed until at least July a vote on the Detroit Metropolitan Airport’s $3.6 billion expansion plan after a group of suburban mayors opposed to the proposal requested the delay.
The board was expected to vote on the plan May 22, and now has postponed a vote until at least July 24. If the board approves the plan, it would go to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The expansion plan includes building a fifth parallel runway, a passenger transportation rail system, and terminal expansion projects. Opponents say the plan relies on outdated federal figures that overestimate future passenger demand at the airport, and that a fifth runway would have a negative impact on surrounding towns.
Airport officials have yet to compile a formal financing plan but expect to rely in part on passenger facility charges to pay debt service on general airport revenue bonds.
