Mayor David Bieter and Idaho’s congressional delegation continue their joint efforts to stop an ill-conceived plan to move a key air-traffic control system from Boise Airport to Salt Lake City.

On Capitol Hill, the Idaho delegation sent a letter requesting an audit of the Federal Aviation Administration’s cost estimates to move the Boise Airport’s TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) to Salt Lake City. The delegation also sent a letter to FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt requesting a halt to further action on the TRACON move until the joint audit by the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General and Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service is complete.

At issue is the belief that relocation of the TRACON system could result in an unnecessary expense for taxpayers, a decrease in efficiency, a loss of local jobs, and a potential threat to air safety.

“All taxpayers should be concerned about spending millions to relocate the TRACON system while there are still serious unanswered questions about whether it can operate as promised,” Mayor Bieter said. “The most cost-effective solution for the taxpayer, and the best solution for the traveling public, is to keep TRACON in Boise.”

Earlier this month Mayor Bieter and Congressman Walt Minnick met with FAA officials on Capitol Hill to question them about the high costs and technical obstacles associated with the move. Bieter and Minnick used the FAA’s own cost-per-operation performance data to show that keeping the TRACON at Boise Airport is the best use of taxpayer dollars. Idaho Senator Jim Risch was to also attend the meeting but was delayed by Senate business. Sen. Risch shares Mayor Bieter’s and Rep. Minnicks’ concerns about the use of taxpayer dollars and the threat of diminished service to Idaho air travelers.

This issue dates back to 2006 when Mayor Bieter, then-Governor Risch and Idaho’s entire congressional delegation (Senators Craig and Crapo, Representatives Simpson and Otter) summoned the FAA to the Boise Airport to defend its planned move. Questions raised concerning the cost and efficiency of the move as well as the technical viability of a system that would be required to operate across the vast and difficult topography between Salt Lake City and Boise still have not been answered by the federal government.

Boise Airport serves more than 3 million passengers a year as well as the Army and Air National Guard, the National Interagency Fire Center and the general aviation community. The airport provides vital transportation services to a vast geographic region, acting as an economic driver for parts of three states. Boise’s isolated location – the most remote city in the contiguous United States – makes air transportation extremely important to the continued vitality of our community.

• Delegation Letter (pdf)