Tinicum Township, Delaware County, PA

Public Awareness Campaign Regarding Proposed Expansion of Philadelphia Airport and Resulting Lawsuit

Tinicum Township in Delaware County, Pa., is home to approximately two-thirds of the Philadelphia International Airport complex. Headquartered in Essington, Pa., and occupying approximately five square miles, Tinicum Township is currently facing further encroachment by the airport due to a “Capacity Enhancement Plan.” This plan, which has been set forth by the City of Philadelphia and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), calls for the acquisition of approximately 230 acres of land in Tinicum Township, part of which would be used to add a new runway near the Delaware River.

In addition to facing increased noise, engine vibration, vehicular traffic and pollution from the airport, Tinicum Township residents would lose 72 homes, displacing approximately 300 residents. Eighty businesses would also be displaced, impacting about 3,300 employees. With these and other threats on the horizon, Tinicum Township, together with Delaware County, filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that would require the City of Philadelphia to gain consent from the township and the county before moving forward with the proposed land purchase. 

In light of the impending lawsuit, the Township named Furia Rubel its public relations agency of record. The Township’s goals were to increase awareness of the airport expansion plans and the dispute, increase the share of the Township’s voice regarding the proposed expansion, proactively communicate their messages about the potential consequences of the airport expansion, and generate positively publicity for the Township with regard to the dispute.

The Furia Rubel handles strategic planning, media outreach, and community and government relations efforts, among other initiatives for Tinicum Township. One key component of this effort was the planning and implementation of a May 2009 press conference announcing the lawsuit and outlining the implications of the proposed airport expansion into Tinicum Township. Numerous local and regional news outlets were on hand to cover the press conference. These included CBS 3, FOX 29, ABC 6, the Philadelphia Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Delaware County Times and others. KYW Newsradio 1060, WHYY-FM 90.9, WSPG-TV The CW Philly 57, the Associated Press, the Daily Local News, the Philadelphia Business Journal, USA Today and many more media outlets also covered the dispute.

In total, Furia Rubel’s efforts on behalf of Tinicum Township resulted in more than 55 million media impressions with a value of more than $45,000. Numerous broadcast media outlets, more than 20 print news publications and more than 65 online sites covered the airport dispute, reaching radio listeners, television viewers and news readers throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond.