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Officials Announce $6.4 Billion PHL Airport Expansion

By Tim Jimenez

PHILADELPHIA (CBS)Officials from Philadelphia, the Airport and Delaware County came together to announce a tentative agreement to go forward with a multi-billion dollar plan to expand Philadelphia International Airport. If approved by the FAA, this would end a seven-year-dispute and hundreds of Tinicum residents won't have to move.

The original expansion proposal called for the airport having to acquire 72 Tinicum homes; relocating 300 residents. But with this tentative deal, that's now off the table. Mayor Nutter, Congressmen Pat Meehan and Bob Brady, along with Tinicum officials say they're all on the same page now to push a $6.4 billion airport expansion forward.

"A new runway and runway extensions, but also a redevelopment of our terminal building and facilities and our Cargo City area so we can generate even greater economic growth for the future," Airport CEO Mark Gale said.

But in this new plan the UPS facility would have to move away from Tinicum and toward the airport interior. Another hurdle Mayor Nutter says they have to clear.

"That's what negotiations and discussions are all about," Mayor Nutter said.

A UPS spokesman says they're studying the proposal but their preference is to stay put.

On Monday afternoon, American Airlines released a statement on the expansion, which reads:

"American Airlines along with the airlines serving PHL congratulate the City of Philadelphia, Tinicum Township, Delaware County and the Interboro School District on coming to an agreement. We anticipate receiving a full briefing from the airport as to their plans including the cost ramifications of today's announcement."

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