PHX Newsroom Feature Enhancements

When Escaping the Arizona Summer, Make Sure You Stay Cool with These Labor Day Travel Tips

https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/aviation/2844

Aviation

8/25/2023 4:00:00 PM

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When Escaping the Arizona Summer, Make Sure You Stay Cool with These Labor Day Travel Tips

<div class="ExternalClassFD24F79B01494EBEA1CC25D374FE4310"><html>Each year, as Labor Day approaches, many Arizonans celebrate the holiday with a timely trip away from the triple digits. If you are looking to escape over the Labor Day weekend to a cooler destination, we are offering some valuable tips. It is very important for passengers to plan ahead before they travel through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Remember to <a href="https://www.skyharbor.com/" target="_blank">check your flight status</a> with your airline before coming to the airport and make sure to give yourself plenty of time. If you are flying domestically, arrive at least two hours prior to your flight departure and three hours if you are traveling internationally. <ul><li>Make parking a breeze. Parking in the terminal parking garages, East Economy, and the 24th Street Express Pay parking area can be booked in advanced at <a href="http://www.skyharbor.com/parking" target="_blank">skyharbor.com/parking</a>. No change fees or cancellation fees up to one hour before you park. But remember, even with reservations, make sure to give yourself enough time to navigate the added passenger volumes. </li><li>View security checkpoint wait times on <a href="https://www.skyharbor.com/BeforeTraveling/Security" target="_blank">skyharbor.com</a> or on one of the flight information display boards in each terminal. Did you know you can use any security checkpoint in Terminal 4 to access any gate? And make sure to take advantage of the PHX RESERVE program which allows guests to schedule a specific time for their TSA security screening. All you need to do is reserve your time and show up at your assigned checkpoint at your appointment time. See more at <a href="http://www.skyharbor.com/phxreserve" target="_blank">skyharbor.com/phxreserve</a>.</li><li>Visit the <a href="https://maps.skyharbor.aero/" target="_blank">interactive maps on skyharbor.com</a> on your smartphone or tablet to find out which restaurants and shops are near your gate as well as other Airport information.</li><li>Finally, look for our Navigators dressed in purple. Navigator volunteers serve all over the Airport by providing directions, information, and friendly assistance. They serve as a welcoming presence to more than 120,000 passengers each day, truly making it America's Friendliest Airport®. </li><li>Travelers with special needs are now able to arrange to pick up a <a href="https://www.skyharbor.com/ShopsFoodServices/services/compassion-corner" target="_blank">Compassion Cacti™ lanyard</a> prior to their trip, and even schedule a Navigator Guide to accompany them through the travel process. The Compassion Cacti™ lanyard signals to Airport employees that a customer may need extra assistance or time as they pass through Sky Harbor. </li><li>And finally, explore some local art. Both terminals showcase art exhibitions created by talented Arizona painters, photographers, sculptors, and other artists. These beautiful <a href="http://www.skyharbor.com/museum" target="_blank">Phoenix Airport Museum exhibitions</a> can be seen both before and after security. </li></ul>For more travel tips, visit <a href="http://www.skyharbor.com/flying-from-phx/travel-tips" target="_blank">www.skyharbor.com/flying-from-phx/travel-tips</a>.Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, America's Friendliest Airport®, has an annual economic impact of more than $38 billion. On an average day, approximately 1,200 aircraft and more than 120,000 passengers arrive at and depart from Phoenix Sky Harbor every day. PHX Sky Harbor is funded with Airport revenue. No tax dollars are used to support the Airport. </html></div>

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Phoenix Sky Harbor Awarded $10M RAISE Grant for Cultural Corridor

https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/aviation/2790

Aviation

6/23/2023 7:00:00 AM

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Phoenix Sky Harbor Awarded $10M RAISE Grant for Cultural Corridor

<div class="ExternalClass6CE9073A655B4002A24EA87FA3EC477B"><html>The City of Phoenix Aviation Department is the recipient of a $10 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant. The funding will be used to create a Cultural Corridor that reconnects disadvantaged and underserved communities adjacent to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with Downtown Phoenix. “It's exciting to see our community's plans for the neighborhoods west of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport receive this kind of recognition," said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “This grant will enable us to honor the legacies, histories, and identities of existing communities while also improving safety and mobility in the region. I represented this district for many years as a councilwoman, and know firsthand that this project will have an immediate, positive impact once complete." The PHX Cultural Corridor project was created as part of the PHX Land Reuse Strategy. The City of Phoenix Aviation Department in conjunction with community organizations, neighborhoods, and other stakeholders developed a strategy that could help accelerate the redevelopment of Airport-owned parcels west of the Airport. The main goals include stabilizing and strengthening neighborhoods, creating a sense of identity and change perceptions, and expand economic opportunity. “This grant will provide us with an opportunity to make significant improvements in the area," said District 8 Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington. “Our residents were clear that they wanted to return vacant lots to productive use so that we can create a vibrant live-work environment and they wanted to celebrate the rich history of our community; this grant will allow us to respond to those requests. I also want to thank Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Congressman Greg Stanton, Congressman Ruben Gallego and Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema for their work on behalf of my constituents." The Cultural Corridor will consist of a number of elements such as creating ADA-compliant sidewalks, adding streetlights, adding protected bike lanes, deploying wayfinding elements and historic building/site markers, constructing bus shelters, re-establishing utility connections, and installing public art. “Sky Harbor's success should be a point of pride for all Phoenicians—but for many in the surrounding area, the airport's growth has separated them from their neighbors and from economic opportunity," Rep. Greg Stanton said. “We're putting Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to work to reconnect and revitalize these communities, while honoring their history." The Cultural Corridor is bounded by 7th Street on the west, 16th Street and Sky Harbor Circle on the east, Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) on the north, and I-17 on the south. It includes the historic Central City South/Nuestro Barrio neighborhoods of El Campito, Cuatro Milpas, Ann Ott, Green Valley, and San Juan Batista. RAISE grants are a discretionary grant program that fund surface transportation and infrastructure projects such as this one that have a substantial local or regional impact. RAISE Grant Funds were authorized under the Local and Regional Assistance Program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). For more information on our Land Reuse Plan as well as future project updates, please visit <a href="https://www.skyharbor.com/about-phx/land-reuse-strategy" target="_blank">https://www.skyharbor.com/about-phx/land-reuse-strategy</a> <div style="text-align:center;"> </div><div style="text-align:center;">Quotes from Phoenix City Council</div> “Thanks to the community members who took the time to share their vision for their neighborhoods around Sky Harbor and the work of our Aviation staff, we will be able to start transforming the Cultural Corridor site into a more walkable, accessible area for everyone. For years, the community has advocated for their neighborhoods' needs, and this grant is a great investment in that vision." Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari “Phoenix's barrio neighborhoods were some of the most impacted by Sky Harbor's expansion, and I am proud to support the Aviation Department's work to find creative ways to support the community through grant funding for the Cultural Corridor project. This plan highlights our communities' strong ties to Cesar Chavez, Silvestre Herrera and so many others who called these neighborhoods home. Through this project their memories will be honored and our residents will better served." Councilwoman Betty Guardado, District 5. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, America's Friendliest Airport®, has an annual economic impact of more than $38 billion. On an average day, approximately 1,200 aircraft and more than 120,000 passengers arrive at and depart from Phoenix Sky Harbor every day. PHX Sky Harbor is funded with airport revenue. No tax dollars are used to support the airport. </html></div>

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PHX Sky Harbor Hosts Dementia Friendly Air Travel Workshop

https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/aviation/2778

Aviation

6/9/2023 9:00:00 PM

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PHX Sky Harbor Hosts Dementia Friendly Air Travel Workshop

<div class="ExternalClass856CB36871034D7F9667C04A4A4417CD"><html> The summer travel season is in full swing, and many are already making travel plans for the busy end of the year holiday season. However, for an estimated seven million people in the United States experiencing dementia* thinking about travel or planning a future getaway can be overwhelming. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport strives to provide the best customer experience to all passengers that pass through the terminals. America's Friendliest Airport® adopted a dementia-friendly initiative in 2021 that added special programing for those traveling with dementia. In addition, the Customer Service team at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will be hosting a two-hour workshop in July to help passengers with dementia and their care providers plan and learn how to navigate a busy airport. The Dementia Friendly Air Travel Workshop will bring together representatives from the airport, airlines, and TSA to share information and tips while answering questions from family members of those with dementia and care providers. “Feeling overwhelmed and not knowing the resources available to help from the curb, through the airport and to the reserved seat on the plane, can make it easy to see how many see traveling as a stressful and scary situation," said PHX's Superintendent of Customer Service, Misty Cisneros-Contreras. “Being prepared can make the experience less intimidating for both care providers and their loved ones. We are excited that our Dementia Friendly Air Travel Workshop adds another layer to the programming already offered to ensure these unique customers have a positive traveling experience." The Dementia Friendly Air Travel Workshop will be held on Wednesday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Those interested in learning more or wishing to attend the workshop can email <a style="background-color:window;font-size:10pt;" href="mailto:skyharbor@phoenix.gov" target="_blank">skyharbor@phoenix.gov</a> . Include the subject line Dementia Friendly Air Travel Workshop Registration. Seating is limited. </html></div>

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Take a Road Trip at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/aviation/2770

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6/5/2023 5:00:00 PM

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Take a Road Trip at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

<div class="ExternalClassEF3C1A126CE141E49F9375E626C3FA10"><html> America's most famous highway, Route 66, the Mother Road, has lured travelers west since it first opened in 1926. Now, you can catch a glimpse of sites along this iconic route at America's Friendliest Airport®. Phoenix Airport Museum's exhibition, Stories from the Mother Road, presents photographs by Tucson, Arizona photographer Terrence Moore. For more than 50 years, Moore has driven Route 66 taking pictures along the way. Curio shops, vintage motels, neon signs and quirky roadside attractions from a bygone era have all come to represent the classic highway. You do not need a plane ticket to view the exhibition located at Phoenix Sky Harbor's Terminal 4, level 3. It is free to visit and viewable 24/7 through April 2024. Get your pics on Route 66 and win a prize. Visitors to the exhibition can snap a photo with a large-scale cutout image of a 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Woody Station Wagon. If they share their image via email with the Phoenix Airport Museum, they will receive a gift. The Phoenix Airport Museum is one of the largest airport art programs in the country. The museum maintains art and aviation history collections and presents art and themed exhibitions in more than 40 display areas throughout the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport system. For more information, visit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.skyharbor.com/at-the-airport/amenities/airport-museum/" style="font-size:10pt;background-color:window;">https://www.skyharbor.com/at-the-airport/amenities/airport-museum/</a> </html></div>

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Phoenix Sky Harbor Reminds Memorial Day Travelers to Plan Ahead

https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/aviation/2751

Aviation

5/22/2023 4:00:00 PM

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Phoenix Sky Harbor Reminds Memorial Day Travelers to Plan Ahead

<div class="ExternalClass8CCABBF6722A4818AFF5A4C35869DABB"><html> The summer travel season begins with the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. As the number of people traveling continues to increase and people continue to focus on leisure travel, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is expecting robust summer travel passenger volume. As the airport has seen the busiest first quarter in its history, the key to ensure your summer getaway is a success is to plan ahead. Here are a few tips from America's Friendliest Airport® to ensure summer travel does not leave you overheated: Plan ahead for parking. If you plan to park at the airport, reserve your parking in advance. Book your parking at <a href="http://www.skyharbor.com/parking" target="_blank">skyharbor.com/parking.</a> Come early even if you have a reservation. We will be busy so allow for extra time to enter the parking facilities and find a space. See up-to-the-minute parking availability on <a href="http://www.skyharbor.com/" target="_blank">skyharbor.com</a>. And don't stop there, we have conveniently numbered the columns throughout each parking area. Take a photo of the parking pillar closest to your car for easy finding when you return. Packing your bags. Know what can and cannot go in a carry-on bag. Prohibited items result in checkpoint delays. Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag or your checked bag? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?" feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly or visit <a href="https://www.tsa.gov/" target="_blank">tsa.gov</a>. Give yourself extra time. Arrive early and check security wait times online. If you are traveling domestically, arrive two hours before your flight, three hours if you are traveling internationally. Travelers can also check current TSA security checkpoint wait times on <a href="http://www.skyharbor.com/" target="_blank">skyharbor.com</a> and on the flight information screens in the Airport once they arrive. Traveling in Terminal 4? You can use any security checkpoint to access your gate. Reduce your time in the security checkpoint line. Our PHX RESERVE program allows you to save your space and reduce the wait. Make a reservation up to six days before your flight departs. You'll be provided with a time to enter a designated checkpoint where you'll begin the standard security process. This program is open to travelers of any airline. <a href="https://www.skyharbor.com/flying-from-phx/security-screening/phx-reserve/" target="_blank">Learn more</a>. We are not just busy in our terminals and on the runways. The roadways around the airport are seeing increased congestion as well. This means picking up or dropping off family and friends can be potentially stressful too. Here are some easy tips to avoid the congestion on airport roadways and outside terminals: <ul style="" class="" dir=""> <li>Take advantage of the PHX Sky Train® Stations for pick-up and drop-off. This will help you avoid terminal curb congestion and roadway traffic. The 44th Street and the 24th Street PHX Sky Train® Stations flank the airport and can easily be reached from highways and major streets. Also remember, from the 44th Street PHX Sky Train® Station there is easy access to the Valley Metro Rail.</li> <li>Avoid circling the terminals. Use the Cell Phone Lots. The lots are east of Terminal 4, west of the West Economy Garage and at the 44th Street PHX Sky Train® Station.</li> </ul> Finally, remember we are here to help. From tips on navigating Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with children or pets to our interactive maps that help you see what food options and services are near your gate, visit <a href="http://www.skyharbor.com/" target="_blank">skyharbor.com</a>. Also, look for our Navigators dressed in purple. Navigator volunteers serve all over the Airport by providing directions, information, and friendly assistance. They serve as a welcoming presence to more than 120,000 passengers daily, making us America's Friendliest Airport®. </html></div>

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Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Bond Rating Upgrade, Record Passenger Numbers Echo Tourism Recovery

https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/aviation/2737

Aviation

5/1/2023 10:30:00 PM

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Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Bond Rating Upgrade, Record Passenger Numbers Echo Tourism Recovery

<div class="ExternalClass68ADCA4F7A044521B744017D909B06DF"><html> Moody's Investors Services (Moody's) raised its long-term rating to Aa2 from Aa3 on Phoenix Civic Improvement Corporation's (CIC) senior-lien general airport revenue bonds (GARBs) and raised its long-term rating to Aa3 from A1 on CIC's junior-lien GARBs, issued on behalf of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Both credits have stable outlooks. Moody's also assigns Aa2 to the CIC Airport Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2023 (AMT). The upgraded ratings reflect the airport's improved air travel passenger base from the limited competition in the region and Phoenix's growing and diversified economy. The ratings also reflect the City's high quality of financial management by achieving strong financial targets and managing a financially sound capital improvement plan. “Phoenix Sky Harbor is the largest economic engine in the state of Arizona and one of our most valuable assets," said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “These ratings reinforce the strong management and outlook of our Airport which is vital to our growing area as we continue to look to attract new investments." Moody's expects the airport's origination and destination (O&D) passenger base will continue to grow modestly and expects the Airport to continue to manage the current capital plan effectively. “The ratings reflect the high quality of the financial management of the airport and their proven track record of meeting, or exceeding, financial targets," said City of Phoenix Chief Financial Officer Katheen Gitkin. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport recently released March passenger numbers reporting more than 4.6 million people traveled through the airport. This number is a two percent increase from March 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic and when the Airport had its busiest month ever. March 2023 marks the busiest month in Phoenix Sky Harbor's history. A high bond rating means the airport can realize lower interest rates when issuing debt for airport improvements and modernization projects. Phoenix Sky Harbor is currently working on projects including improving airfield efficiency with a new north/south taxiway on the west side of the Airport, a second north concourse at Terminal 3, and a post-security walkway connecting Terminals 3 and 4. These ratings reflect the airport's ability to move forward with the capital plan while maintaining competitive airline costs in the midst of seeing a record-increase in passenger numbers. </html></div>

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Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a Winner in IDC Government Insights’ Sixth Annual Smart Cities North America Awards

https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/aviation/2722

Aviation

4/13/2023 12:00:00 AM

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Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a Winner in IDC Government Insights’ Sixth Annual Smart Cities North America Awards

<div class="ExternalClass073C85C55068438482C884DFAE6C7986">Airport recognized for its commitment to Digital Equity and AccessibilityPHOENIX - America's Friendliest Airport® is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of an award in the IDC Government Insights' sixth annual Smart Cities North America Awards (SCNAA) in the category of Digital Equity and Accessibility. The Airport was recognized for several innovative initiatives to help those who are visually and hearing impaired."I'm so pleased that our airport has been recognized with a Smart Cities Award," said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. "Travel for people with disabilities can be challenging, and Phoenix Sky Harbor has been committed to ensuring that all travelers have the best possible trip. These new innovations improve accessibility and empower travelers so that they can have a more welcoming and positive experience." The Smart Cities Awards are designed to recognize the progress North American states and municipalities have made in executing Smart City projects, as well as provide a forum for sharing best practices to help accelerate Smart City development in the region. In addition to the winning project, Phoenix was also named a finalist for two additional initiatives: the Phoenix City Manager's Performance Dashboard and Open Data initiative; and the Planning and Development Department's ShapePHX permitting and inspection platform. In 2022, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport launched a service called Aira. It's a free service available to support those customers who are blind or have low vision. Aira uses a mobile app to assist passengers with a variety of needs, including moving through the airport, finding gates, reading flight information screens, and more. The app connects users with professionally trained visual interpreters who use live-streamed video to translate visual information into descriptive audio. The app is available in the Apple and Google Play stores, and while accessing the service for personal use requires a monthly subscription, America's Friendliest Airport® has made the service free for all airport users. "I'm so proud that the Aviation Department has been recognized for its work to help people to travel how they want, and to make that process as easy as possible," said Councilwoman Debra Stark, chair of the city's Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee."We first started discussing Aira after I had a conversation with one of my constituents who uses the service, and it's great to see what a big difference this technology can make for Sky Harbor's passengers." The Airport also has several other unique innovations to help those with disabilities including hearing loops. In 2022, the Airport added hearing loops to its new Terminal 4 Eighth Concourse. With the recent expansions, Phoenix Sky Harbor has more than 85,000 square feet of hearing loops in Terminal 3 and another 25,000 in Terminal 4. This advanced technology improves accessibility for hearing-aid users by connecting directly to the public address system. It allows people who use hearing aids to more easily hear announcements about flight delays, gate changes and other useful information.Additionally, Phoenix Sky Harbor offers other services like the Compassion Cacti™ lanyard program where those travelers who self-identify as needing extra assistance can request a free lanyard to be worn while traveling through the Airport. This signifies to Airport staff that these individuals may need a little extra time or help when in the Airport. The Airport also recently introduced a Sensory Room for individuals with autism, dementia or other-sensory related conditions, and Phoenix Sky Harbor has been focused on being a dementia-friendly airport by providing training for staff. The City of Phoenix Smart Cities mission is data-driven, community-centered, technologically focused, and equitable, including designing and implementing solutions to community challenges and improving city processes for efficient use of time, resources, and energy - enhancing quality of life for all residents. Phoenix is a lead member of The Connective, a regional public-private consortium working to advance Smart Cities solutions across the region. Projects were submitted earlier this year, and after finalists were announced in March, the public had the opportunity to review the projects and cast their vote. The awards will be presented as the Smart Cities Connect event being held May 16-18 in Denver. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.idc.com/prodserv/insights/government/smart-cities-awards">Learn more about the awards here</a>.<div style="text-align:center;">Quotes from Phoenix City Council</div> "Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is known for its friendly service, but its spirit of service goes much further. Our airport professionals have prioritized free access to assistive technology to ensure all travelers can move smoothly. I'm grateful that they are being recognized for their work in digital equity and accessibility, which has made them a leader in customer service." Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari "This award recognizes what we already know... Sky Harbor is committed to ensuring that our all our passengers and customers have a great experience. By providing this tool for people who are blind or low vision to navigate independently, our Aviation Department is making sure that "America's Friendliest Airport" is also America's most accessible airport to anyone who wants to travel." District 1 Councilwoman Ann O'Brien "This recognition by Smart Cities highlights that Phoenix is always working to find innovative ways to address the challenges that our residents face,Throughout my City Council career I have advocated to ensure that transportation is accessible to everyone, and the addition of Aira service is another way that the city helps to make that possible." District 4 Councilwoman Laura Pastor "Sky Harbor does more than connect our city with the world, it is an important part of our community as an economic engine and workforce hub. So it's particularly important that we make our airport accessible to everyone. The addition of Aira service provides another layer of support to the traveling public and the workers who make the airport run, by giving them digital assistance in navigating the terminals if they need it. It is a great example of using technology for everyone's benefit." District 5 Councilwoman Betty Guardado "Access to travel is important and I am excited to see Phoenix Sky Harbor receive recognition for the innovative work being done to get travelers from the curb to their gate in a safe and accessible way. The airport hearing loops, Aira phone app, and the Compassion Cacti lanyards are just a few programs demonstrating the City's commitment to equal access to public services." District 6 Councilman Sal DiCiccio "I am proud that the Aviation Department is offering this service to our residents and customers at no cost - and is using innovative technology to provide an inclusive environment at Sky Harbor. This award is well-deserved, and a symbol of our commitment to be an airport for everyone." District 8 Councilmember Carlos Garcia<div style="text-align:center;"># # #</div> Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport,America's Friendliest Airport®,has an annual economic impact of more than $38 billion. On an average day, approximately 1,200 aircraft and more than 120,000 passengers arrive at and depart from Phoenix Sky Harbor every day. PHX Sky Harbor is funded with airport revenue. No tax dollars are used to support the airport. </div>

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City of Phoenix Aviation Department Files Legal Action Against Tempe: Planned Tempe Residential Developments Fail to Protect Sky Harbor and the Community

https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/aviation/2709

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3/29/2023 12:00:00 AM

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City of Phoenix Aviation Department Files Legal Action Against Tempe: Planned Tempe Residential Developments Fail to Protect Sky Harbor and the Community

<div class="ExternalClassE8399AE506B64E82A571CD89B8B39767"><html> After more than a year of attempts to resolve a dispute with the City of Tempe over planned residential developments in a high-noise corridor directly under Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport's flight path, the Phoenix Aviation Department has filed a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.skyharbor.com/media/b3el55ws/verified-complaint-as-filed_web.pdf" style="background-color:window;">formal complaint</a> in Maricopa County Superior Court. The City of Phoenix, which owns and operates Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, is suing Tempe for breach of contract, asking the court to rescind Tempe's recent zoning and land use changes and prohibit future residential uses in an area that the Federal Aviation Administration says is incompatible with residential development. “The Phoenix Aviation Department does not object to a sports arena, restaurants, shops, and other compatible uses related to the proposed Tempe Entertainment District," said Phoenix Director of Aviation Services, Chad Makovsky. “Today's action is about ensuring Tempe lives up to its commitments to protecting our state's largest economic engine – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the more than 57,000 employees and 44 million annual travelers who depend on the Airport, and the communities surrounding the Airport who depend on the long-standing agreement between our two cities." At issue is a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.skyharbor.com/about-phx/noise-and-flight-paths/tempe-entertainment-district">1.2 square mile area of land</a> adjacent to the airport in the City of Tempe which is exposed to noise levels exceeding 65-decibel day/night level (65 DNL). The Federal Aviation Administration recently re-affirmed the boundaries of this high noise area and confirmed that it is not compatible with housing. The cities of Phoenix and Tempe formally agreed back in 1994 that Phoenix would actively defend a modified flight path that follows the Salt River bottom in order to keep departing planes away from homes, while Tempe promised not to permit the development of homes under that modified flight path in the 65 DNL. Phoenix has tried numerous times over the past year to resolve disagreements with Tempe and attempt to find a path forward, avoiding litigation. Phoenix knows from experience that quality of life is diminished when residents are exposed to excessive aircraft noise. Impacted residents in these areas are expected to respond by taking actions such as filing noise complaints, lawsuits, and other initiatives to reduce or halt airport capacity and development in an attempt to obtain relief. “After more than a year of meetings and negotiations, we are disappointed that these efforts did not resolve the dispute." said Makovsky. “As neighboring cities that mutually benefit from Sky Harbor, which drives our region's tourism, travel, and trade economies, we felt we were very close to a reasonable resolution. We are now left with no other option than to put this in the hands of a judge to confirm the obligations Tempe agreed to in 1994. Of course, Phoenix remains open, even during this litigation, to a solution that honors the integrity of the 1994 agreement between our two cities and continues to protect the Airport and the residents who live near it." </html></div>

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