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.