Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) announced today he will be an original cosponsor of H.R. 5236, the Aerotropolis Act of 2010. If enacted, this legislation would ensure funding eligibility for aerotropolis transportation system projects under the Federal Highway Administration’s Projects of National and Regional Significance Program. Dingell has been one of the leaders in a group of Southeast Michigan residents working to build such a project between Detroit Metro Airport and Willow Run Airport.
“The aerotropolis in Metro Detroit cannot become a reality without federal, state and local support. This legislation will allow cities like Detroit, Memphis and Indianapolis make their visions a reality by permitting them to compete for funding under the Projects of National and Regional Significance Program. Enhancing the aerotropolis will bolster the prominence of Metro Detroit as an international center for commerce and increase our competitiveness with foreign cities,” Dingell said. “Not only will this bill provide jobs by supporting the Metro Detroit Aerotropolis, it will also help to diversify the local economy. There is no question that this is a good thing for Michigan.”
Sufficient funding is a pivotal issue for the advancement of aerotropolises around the country. The Projects of Regional Significance Program funds high-cost projects that enhance U.S. competitiveness that would not otherwise be easily addressed through traditional funding mechanisms. Aerotropolis systems are currently developing across the United States in places such as Detroit and Indianapolis. However, as a result of the economic downturn, many of these cities are not able to generate sufficient funding without federal assistance such as that provided in this bill, sponsored by Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN9).
Background
The term “aerotropolis” was coined by John D. Kasarda from the University of North Carolina. Kasarda has described the aerotropolis as being similar in shape to the traditional metropolis, made up of a central city and its commuter linked suburbs, the aerotropolis consists of an “airport city” core (which would be Metro Airport) and extensive outlying corridors and clusters of aviation-oriented businesses and their associated residential developments.
The aerotropolis is an economic development initiative for the 60,000 acres between Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Willow Run Airport, and its backbone is incentives, such as renaissance zones, designed to lure new business, especially logistics or those reliant on aviation.
Ultimately, Detroit's aerotropolis could include office space, hotels, retail outlets, green spaces and recreation areas. Already, successful aerotropolises are up and running in Louisville, Dallas and Amsterdam.
Such a project could create 64,000 new jobs in the Metro Detroit area and $10 billion in annual economic impact by the time the project is built over 25 years. At its peak, the aerotropolis could attract 40,000 residents to the area.
As supply chaining is more global than ever, airport linked commercial facilities are becoming the 21st century gateways to international trade. The Michigan-Ontario exchange is already an industrious channel of international commerce. The Ambassador Bridge in Detroit and the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron are the two busiest commercial crossings on the Northern Border. Today, the most expeditious transportation method is aviation and a robust Metro Detroit Aerotropolis will be vital to Michigan’s continuance as a destination for global trade.
In a 2007 Detroit Free Press op-ed, Congressman Dingell and Congresswoman Candace Miller (R-MI10) said: “The aerotropolis can be a huge impetus for economic growth in southeast Michigan and keep skilled workers in the region to help with our economic transition. A Detroit aerotropolis would help Michigan regain its top standing in innovation and help preserve middle-class jobs. As your federal representatives in Washington work together to reposition Michigan's economic outlook, the proposed intermodal ground access pilot program would go a long way toward those efforts.
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