Navigating The Conflict Between FAA Reauthorization Act Of 2024 And MBTA Communities Act Amid Increasing Air Traffic
In recent years, two major policy initiatives—the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-63, SEC. 787) and the MBTA Communities Act—have emerged with seemingly conflicting goals. One aims to reduce aircraft noise exposure, while the other mandates increased housing density near transit hubs, some of which are located in high-noise flight paths. These policies are coming to a head in communities like Millbury, Massachusetts, where the increasing air traffic from Worcester Regional Airport (ORH) is exacerbating noise pollution concerns.
Massachusetts has 79 airports, with five under FAA control, one under military jurisdiction, and the rest privately managed. Boston’s Logan International Airport, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional Airport are located within the area covered by the MBTA Communities Act. These three Massport airports impact residents of Boston, Bedford, Worcester, and the surrounding communities along takeoff and landing flight paths.
| ID | Airport Name | Community | Control Tower | Runways |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BED | Hanscom Field | Bedford | FAA | 2 |
| BOS | Logan International Airport | Boston (East Boston and Winthrop) |
FAA | 6 |
| CEF | Westover Metropolitan | Chicopee | MILITARY | 2 |
| HYA | Barnstable Municipal | Hyannis | FAA | 3 |
| ACK | Nantucket Memorial | Nantucket | FAA | 3 |
| ORH | Worcester Regional | Worcester | FAA | 2 |
The FAA Reauthorization Act and Its Noise Reduction Mandate
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 includes a provision specifically addressing aircraft noise pollution. Section 787, known as the "Reducing Community Aircraft Noise Exposure" provision, directs the FAA to assess and mitigate the effects of noise on communities near airports. The Act also mandates increased community engagement in the decision-making process and calls for reevaluating flight paths that disproportionately affect residential areas.
Notably, it authorizes $4 billion annually for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and $200 million annually for the new Airport Safety and Resilient Infrastructure Discretionary Program. Currently, 35% of discretionary funds under the AIP are reserved for noise and environmental projects.
Beyond legislative measures, various strategies are employed to reduce airport noise:
Technological Innovations: The FAA's Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) program collaborates with industry partners to develop aircraft technologies that aim to reduce noise levels by 32 decibels cumulatively, relative to international standards.
Operational Procedures: Implementing noise abatement procedures, such as optimized flight paths and regulated flight times, helps minimize noise impact on surrounding communities.
Land-Use Planning: Effective land-use planning around airports, including zoning regulations and sound insulation programs, can significantly reduce the number of people exposed to aircraft noise.
These combined efforts aim to balance the growth of aviation with the quality of life for communities near airports.
The MBTA Communities Act and Transit-Oriented Development
Meanwhile, Massachusetts’ MBTA Communities Act requires cities and towns served by the MBTA to create zoning districts that allow multifamily housing as of right. These districts must be in proximity to transit hubs, including commuter rail stations and bus routes. While the goal is to alleviate the state’s housing crisis by fostering transit-oriented development, it fails to consider noise impacts from air traffic in communities near regional airports.
Worcester Regional Airport’s Growing Traffic and Its Effects on Millbury
Worcester Regional Airport (ORH) has experienced a steady increase in passenger traffic, with reports indicating a record-breaking 12% year-over-year growth in 2024. This increase in flight operations has led to more frequent and lower-altitude flights over Millbury. Residents have noted a significant uptick in noise disturbances, raising concerns about quality of life, health impacts, and property values.
Worcester Regional Airport (ORH) handles an average of approximately 67 aircraft operations per day, based on the Federal Aviation Administration's report of 24,376 operations for the year ending March 31, 2023.
These operations encompass both commercial and general aviation flights. The airport is served by several airlines offering daily commercial services:
JetBlue: Provides daily flights to Fort Lauderdale and two daily flights to New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
American Airlines: Offers daily service to New York City (JFK).
Delta Air Lines: Operates daily flights to New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
In addition to these commercial flights, the airport supports general aviation activities, contributing to the total number of daily operations.
Logan International Airport and Its Impact on Surrounding Communities
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), one of the busiest airports in the country, has long faced criticism for its impact on surrounding communities. Residents in East Boston, Winthrop, and other nearby neighborhoods have expressed concerns about persistent aircraft noise, air pollution, and traffic congestion. The high volume of daily flights has led to ongoing disputes over flight paths and noise mitigation strategies. The FAA and Massport have attempted to address these concerns through noise abatement programs, but many residents feel that stronger measures are needed to alleviate the impact of constant air traffic on their daily lives.
Residents of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Nahant have raised concerns about aviation-related noise, reporting disturbances from frequent low-flying aircraft, especially during takeoff and landing. Many have expressed frustration over increased noise levels, citing disruptions to daily life, sleep disturbances, and overall quality of life.
Massport data shows the number of noise complaints related to aircraft takeoffs and landings at Boston’s Logan International Airport for 2024 and 2023. In 2024, Winthrop residents filed 72,116 noise complaints, while in 2023, the total reached 90,460.
| Community | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington | 7,522 | 7,694 |
| Ayer | 15 | 33 |
| Belmont | 2,379 | 856 |
| Beverly | 12 | 9 |
| Boston | 995 | 403 |
| Braintree | 15 | 374 |
| Brighton | 2 | |
| Brookline | 4 | 5 |
| Burlington | 1 | |
| Cambridge | 2,226 | 2,152 |
| Canton | 3 | 5 |
| Charlestown | 7 | 16 |
| Chelmsford | 3,494 | 1,978 |
| Chelsea | 36 | 38 |
| Cohasset | 548 | 326 |
| Danvers | 12 | 33 |
| Dedham | 1 | |
| Dorchester | 100 | 25 |
| Dover | 1 | 2 |
| East Boston | 101 | 81 |
| Easton | 285 | |
| Essex | 2 | |
| Everett | 303 | 37 |
| Framingham | 15 | 15 |
| Gloucester | 5 | 4 |
| Hamilton | 9 | |
| Hanover | 5 | |
| Hanson | 21 | 5 |
| Hingham | 3 | 2 |
| Holbrook | 8 | 30 |
| Hull | 173 | 259 |
| Hyde Park | 16 | 6 |
| Ipswich | 2 | |
| Jamaica Plain | 355 | 130 |
| Kingston | 2 | 3 |
| Lawrence | 6 | |
| Lexington | 1 | 1 |
| Lynn | 33 | 56 |
| Lynnfield | 1 | 3 |
| Malden | 1,525 | 2,661 |
| Manchester | 6 | 2 |
| Marblehead | 336 | 1,764 |
| Marshfield | 2 | 2 |
| Medford | 22,673 | 28,355 |
| Melrose | 123 | 408 |
| Milton | 17,567 | 19,755 |
| Nahant | 30 | 72 |
| Newton | 15 | 20 |
| Norton | 1 | |
| Norwell | 2 | |
| Peabody | 6 | 11 |
| Pembroke | 1 | |
| Quincy | 10 | 31 |
| Randolph | 4 | |
| Reading | 2 | |
| Revere | 56 | 115 |
| Roslindale | 460 | 146 |
| Roxbury | 684 | 354 |
| Salem | 51 | 135 |
| Scituate | 3 | 6 |
| Sharon | 39 | 4 |
| Somerville | 43,368 | 37,286 |
| South Boston | 395 | 128 |
| South End | 24,944 | 11,067 |
| Stoneham | 1 | |
| Stoughton | 7 | 3 |
| Swampscott | 2 | 9 |
| Wakefield | 1 | |
| Waltham | 1 | |
| Watertown | 1,963 | 2,300 |
| Wellesley | 223 | 46 |
| Wenham | 88 | 121 |
| West Roxbury | 218 | 174 |
| Westwood | 5 | |
| Weymouth | 48 | 147 |
| Wilmington | 1 | |
| Winchester | 4,869 | 7,058 |
| Winthrop | 72,116 | 90,460 |
| Woburn | 2,017 | 1,200 |
The Policy Clash: Noise Mitigation vs. Housing Expansion
New residents moving into communities near airports, train lines, or agricultural areas often raise louder complaints about long-standing environmental factors such as aircraft noise, rail vibrations and noise, or farm operations. While these issues have historically been part of the local landscape, an influx of new residents unfamiliar with these conditions can lead to increased pressure on regulatory agencies to implement changes. This often places existing industries, infrastructure, and residents in a difficult position, as they must navigate the challenges of balancing community growth with maintaining the functionality of essential services and economic drivers.
The simultaneous implementation of these policies presents a direct conflict:
The FAA’s noise reduction initiatives aim to minimize aircraft noise over residential areas, yet the MBTA Communities Act is pushing for new housing developments in locations susceptible to high noise levels from nearby airports.
Millbury and other communities near ORH are seeing an increase in both air traffic and housing density, leading to concerns that noise mitigation efforts may be undermined by zoning mandates placing more residents in high-noise zones.
While federal policy seeks to address noise exposure, the state’s push for denser housing near transit hubs does not adequately consider aviation noise in its zoning guidelines.
What Can Be Done?
To address these conflicts, several steps should be taken:
Stronger Coordination Between Federal and State Agencies – Massachusetts and the FAA must work together to ensure housing policies align with noise mitigation goals.
Updated Zoning Guidelines – The state should incorporate noise exposure data when designating areas for multifamily housing development.
Community Engagement and Advocacy – Residents of Millbury and other affected towns should have a stronger voice in both FAA and state planning efforts.
Flight Path Adjustments – The FAA should evaluate and modify flight paths to mitigate excessive noise impacts on residential areas.
As Worcester Regional Airport continues to grow, the need for a balanced approach between development and noise mitigation becomes more urgent. Without coordinated action, communities like Millbury will bear the brunt of unchecked policy conflicts, leading to long-term consequences for residents’ well-being and the town’s livability. The time for proactive planning and policy alignment is now.
Communities surrounding Hanscom Field have expressed concerns about aircraft noise. The Hanscom Field Advisory Commission (HFAC), which includes representatives from Bedford, Concord, Lexington, and Lincoln, serves as a liaison between these communities and Massport, the authority managing the airfield. In April 2023, 177 noise complaints were filed by 15 residents, indicating ongoing concerns about noise pollution.
To address these issues, Massport has implemented a noise abatement program known as "Fly Friendly," developed in collaboration with local communities, aviation groups, and the Minute Man National Historical Park. This program promotes safe and quiet flying techniques to mitigate noise impacts.
Concerned residents are encouraged to contact their state legislators, the FAA, Massport, EOHLC, Governor Maura Healey, and Attorney General Andrea Campbell to express their concerns about the effects of air traffic operations on communities surrounding Boston Logan International Airport, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional Airport. Additionally, they should voice concerns about the rapid expansion of multi-family housing within the 177 MBTA communities and any other affected areas beyond these designated communities.
Change happens through the contributions and voices of those who speak up.