CityNews.ca looks at some issues surrounding expanding operations at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in a three-part series. 

Part 1: Environment & Health Concerns Raised As Operations Set To Increase At Island Airport

Part 3 (Wednesday):Waterfront Residents Concerned About Increased Traffic Around Island Airport

The study that served as the basis to potentially double the number of flights at the island airport won’t be available for the public to see before more planes start taking off and landing at the downtown airstrips.

Toronto Port Authority President and CEO Geoff Wilson said in order for the airport to reach out to more commercial carriers the federal agency must keep that report to itself, for now.

“It’s a privileged document and the document is used as the basis for our ability to put together an RFP (request for proposal) to invite commercial carriers in,” he told CityNews.ca. “So I would suggest to you that it would be inappropriate to put a document out before we put an RFP out. So that clearly is not going to happen.”

"We did promise that we would put together a process, a fair and transparent process, to invite carriers into the airport and we're working on that now."

The TPA announced its plans increase the number of available slots at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, potentially to 212 from the current 120, in a Christmas Eve press release. The agency is inviting more commercial carriers to use the downtown runways – Air Canada and Continental have expressed interest.

The new $50 million terminal opened to passengers Sunday.

Local activists were hoping to take a look at the report used to make that slot decision at a Feb. 17th information session organized by the TPA to present the findings of another study on noise management. (see video)

Some questioned how the TPA can increase flights while still respecting the Tripartite Agreement, which lays the framework of how much noise the airport can generate. Brian Iler, chair of the anti-airport group CommunityAir, believes the only way the increase can happen is if the TPA removes Medevac helicopters.

“We need to see that prediction, which they will not release and we think we know why they won’t release it,” he said. “It’s that prediction that has to include helicopters and if it does we think they cannot possibly go over 120 or 130 slots.”

Wilson said he has no intention of dumping the helicopters.

“Helicopter and Medevac, you’re an important part of this community and, by the way, we’re an important service component to your ability to be able to service the community from this unique location. We’d like you to stay and so we have no intention of removing them,” he said.

“Very clearly we are not expanding an airport. We are using up the available capacity under the Tripartite Agreement.”

Some residents who attended that February meeting were angry the data presented to them didn't take the potential near doubling of flights into account.

Others were surprised to learn their homes on Bathurst Quay, which sit directly across from the airport, were not included in the noise sensitive areas in the noise management study presented to them.

“We’re not even part of this study,” resident Rebecca Quigley said. “Basically, we’re not here. We don’t matter.”

The report(.pdf), conducted by Jacobs Consultancy, did suggest revising the current noise sensitive areas to account for new residential dwellings and alter airport flight procedures to reduce noise.

The TPA plans to spend $900,000 to build two sound barriers to shield residents from airport noise.

The noise management study recommended the TPA take measures to limit engine run-ups and idling, and suggested traffic noise from the nearby Gardiner Expressway and Queen’s Quay is sometimes louder than noise generated by aircraft.

The TPA has come under some harsh criticism from its waterfront neighbours for its perceived lack of public consultation, and when it does hold meetings, some residents are unhappy with the format, as was the case on Feb. 17.

Local activists demanded an open house-style meeting with microphones so they could ask questions as a neighbourhood and so everyone could hear the answers. The TPA laid the results of its complex and scientific noise study out on panels and had experts on hand to answer individual questions.

Wilson doesn’t believe an open-house meeting would’ve been a productive format.

“Agendas get hijacked,” he said.

“We tried to do the right thing … I think we were disappointed the meeting wasn’t appreciated.”

Local city councillor Adam Vaughan claims the TPA “operates under a cloak of secrecy” and with little accountability.

“They have no sense of public duty and no sense of public responsibility and the disclosure is terrible,” he said.

The TPA’s response to curfew violations has also been inadequate, according to Vaughan.

“The port authority, if you go to its website and they’ve confirmed it in public, has allowed planes to take off after curfew,” he said.

The port authority hands down fines of up to $10,000 per occurrence for commercial curfew violations, which it says are rare.

The TPA formed the Noise Management Advisory group in November 2008 in order to engage dialogue with the community. The group has met twice.

Some residents have voiced concern about current noise levels and worry about increasing flights.

“At home, we cannot hear each other unless we close the window,” Queen’s Quay West resident Nancy Wo said.

Others who spend substantial amounts of time in the area haven't had the same experience.

Nadira Persaud, principal of the Waterfront School, said vehicular traffic is her biggest neighbourhood concern and noted she hasn’t received any complaints from staff or students about aircraft noise.

“During school hours, it has not been brought to my attention,” she said.

**Check back Wednesday for part three in this series where we look at concerns over increased traffic around the island airport ferry dock.

shawne.mckeown@citynews.rogers.com