A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-17, regarding a report on an update on efforts to study, assess, and address noise issues associated with flights in and out of Logan Airport

C I T Y O F C A M B R I D G E Community Development Department IRAM FAROOQ Assistant City Manager for Community Development SANDRA CLARKE Deputy Director Chief of Administration KHALIL MOGASSABI Deputy Director Chief of Planning 344 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02139 Voice: [phone removed] Fax: [phone removed] TTY: [phone removed] www.cambridgema.gov TO: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager FROM: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development SUBJECT: Awaiting Report Item #19-17 regarding an update on efforts to study, assess, and address noise issues associated with flights in an out of Logan Airport DATE: April 2, 2019 With respect to the above-referenced Awaiting Report, we submit the following. Cambridge residents have long reported disturbance by noise and vibration from low flying airplanes. Through Massport, MIT’s International Center for Air Transportation has coordinated with Massport’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to conduct a study focused on noise issues associated with certain flights paths in and out of Logan Airport and will develop recommendations that could reduce the impacts from runway 33L flights which impact Cambridge. According to Matt Romero, newly appointed Executive Director of the Massport CAC, the process and timeline for MIT’s analysis is expected to be as follows. MIT researchers are finalizing a draft of their report and recommendations of alternatives to the current departure and landing flight paths, along with data on noise changes associated with each alternative. These are expected within the next few weeks. Following receipt of the report, the Massport CAC Executive Committee will review the report for clarity and completeness in order to provide enough information for communities to have an informed discussion of the proposed measures. MIT is expected to give a presentation on the report and include proposed alternatives for departures from Runway 33L, which directly affects Cambridge, as well as departures and arrivals from other runways at the regular Apr. 23rd Massport CAC meeting at 4:00PM. Meetings are usually held at the Transportation Building at 10 Park Plaza in Boston. Notification of this meeting will be shared on the city’s web site and other means. MIT researchers will also give a smaller presentation on 33L alternatives to the 33L working group communities, including elected officials, and provide an opportunity to ask questions. Communities can then hold their own public meetings to solicit input and seek to develop a consensus on which of the proposed options to support. If 33L working group communities, which includes Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, Medford, Watertown, and often Somerville, agree on a preferred alternative, that alternative would be expected to move forward for a vote at the Massport CAC during its June meeting. If no clear alternative emerges, more discussions will be needed. Once there is agreement, the FAA will require time, usually several months, to obtain internal approval for agreed upon alternatives and to implement the recommendations. The City’s proposed FY20 budget includes additional funding for a noise consultant to help us understand and analyze proposed noise impacts to Cambridge residents that may result from Massport’s study recommendations.