Despite the unusually strong statements by state and local officials at the meeting, the FAA is expected to stay the course and announce the choice of its preferred proposal in its record of decision as early as the end of this month. If implemented, The change in large aircraft traffic pattern is expected to cause denser and more frequent daily scheduled flights over residential Bergen County towns, including Montvale, Park Ridge, River Vale, Hillsdale, Emerson, Washington Township, Saddle River and Upper Saddle River. In addition to a large increase in noise levels, the routing change would significant raise safety issues and air pollution levels over densely populated Pascack Valley.

Although the FAA has closed its comment period on the proposal, residents are urged to write to to the Port Authority and Continental Airlines. In addition, you can also write to U.S. Senators Lautenberg and Melendez, U.S. Representative Scott Garrett, and Governor Corzine and express your opinion that the FAA should not be allowed to proceed with implementation of this plan. They have the power to see to it that the FAA does not get the $2.5 billion that it needs to implement the redesign project. Concerned residents should send both letters and emails to all parties listed below. Click on the links to voice your opposition (or download the entire ready-to-print six-letter package here in Microsoft Word format):

Updated September 7, 2007