Regional Plan Association again urged caution in developing a fourth major jetport for the New York Region because much still can be done to increase the capacity of existing fields and the huge projected passenger demand might not materialize.

The conclusions were reached by the Association after analyzing a consultants’ report to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The report proposed a staged expansion of Stewart Airport near Newburgh, New York, to enable it to handle almost as many air travellers in 1990 as all three of the Region’s major jetports accommodate now.

The Association does support the concept of a landbank for a fourth major airport and has welcomed the acquisition of Stewart. Furthermore, Regional Plan supports the recommended first-phase expansion to assure adequate facilities for general aviation, flights diverted by bad weather from the existing airports, charter flights, freight, and the small number of scheduled airline trips of travellers closer to Stewart than to the three major airports. This expansion includes the development of one long runway, a modest terminal to accommodate the needs of the first phase, and a high speed rail connection to Manhattan ‑which the Association recommends should run via Paterson, New Jersey.

However, Regional Plan Association listed five reasons why Stewart might not be needed for largescale overflow from the three close-in airports.