Our speaker for November 30, 2023 was Carl Gross, AAE
Carl Gross, AAE
From Carl Gross's LinkedIn page:
Gross is an experienced Operations Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the Aviation & Aerospace industry. He is skilled in Crisis Management, Freight, Emergency Management, Emergency Planning, and Safety Management Systems. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Prior to coming to the Lebanon Municipal Airport, Gross worked at the international airport in Corpus Christi, Texas; Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, Burlington, VT; and Anderson Regional Airport, Anderson County, South Carolina
These are some of the key points he covered as he provided an overview of the Lebanon Regional Airport
The major objectives that guide work a the airport.
- Operate safely, cost-effectively, and environmentally responsible.
- Maximize aviation and non-aviation operating revenues.
- Maximize two-way compatibility between LEB and surrounding areas.
- Maximize LEB’s property tax contributions to City.
- Provide the City and Upper Valley with superb aviation services.
He gave us some historical information about the airport which links back to WWII. The history of the airport showed the impact of changing regulations.
Feb. 1941: Special Town meeting to allow Selectmen to purchase “less than 750 acres on Slack Hill”.
Jun. 1944: Federal government turned airport over to Town. Town promised that full rights will remain with Federal government.
1948: Northeast Airlines starts scheduled service at LEB.
1954: LEB has 8,000 enplanements. Fares were Boston ($16.30), Burlington ($11.30), Montreal ($20.40) and New York ($30.60)
1958: NH Bureau Of Public Highways proposed an “interstate corridor” for I-89.
1960: Lebanon Regional Airport Authority (LRAA) formed and leased what is currently known as airport property from City.
1965: LRAA requested property it leased be deeded. So-called “airport portion” was deeded to LRAA in 1968 with 200 acres retained by City.
1960: Traffic at LRA… is at an all time high, over 20,000 passengers …in 1958 … almost three times the total for
1952. Passenger traffic will more than double in five years.. Over 40,000!
1969: By 1975, the Lebanon Regional Airport's annual traffic is projected at 150,000 aircraft landings and 60,000 commercial passengers.
1978: Congress passes the Airline Deregulation Act of 1979. This act removed Federal oversight of routes and fares. Airlines were now free to change both without prior approval.
1978-2007: Traffic decreases as airlines change equipment and airline economics change.
2008: Cape Air starts 6 daily flights from LEB to Boston.
2010: 108-acre conservation easement in Boston Lot to mitigate 5.1-acre wetland impact of T-Hangar project.
2012: Obstruction removal between Runway 7-25 and Poverty Lane approved for 2013. (AIP-47)
2013: No-Action selected in Runway Safety Area Environmental Assessment. EA completed with a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) from FAA.
2019: Airport performs a limited scope Airport Layout Plan study. Airfield safety projects are recommended based on the study’s projected needs.
2021: Environmental Assessment undertaken for recommended safety projects. A Finding Of No Significant Impacts issues by FAA.
2021: Terminal renovation started.
2022: FAA designed the relocation of the Localizer for safety improvements.
2022: Design of Phase 1 of the safety improvements completed.
2022: Permitting started with NH Department of Environmental Services and United States Army Corps of Engineers for the projects.
Speaker Adams Carroll, Executive Director for Advance Transit
Carroll began his talk by talking about the rich history of Advance Transit under the leadership of Van Chesnut who retired in 2022. Under Van’s leadership, Advance Transit has thrived. Advance Transit is coming up on its 40th anniversary.
He described the organization as Mission Driven.
Advance Transit (AT) is a not-for-profit charitable organization providing fare-free transit in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Their mission is to assure the continued livability and accessibility of Upper Valley communities by providing safe, effective, and friendly public transportation services.
They are committed to the following goals:
- Increase access to jobs and housing.
- Connect people to healthcare, shopping, schools, and other community resources.
- Expand mobility for people with disabilities.
- Help senior citizens participate fully in their communities.
- Provide an appealing alternative to driving.
- Reduce traffic congestion.
- Manage parking demand.
- Operate a sustainable service.
From Wikipedia:
Advance Transit is the main public transportation provider for eastern Windsor County and southwestern Grafton County in southeastern Vermont and western New Hampshire, respectively. Local bus routes are provided between the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth College, the city of Lebanon, New Hampshire, and the towns of Hanover, New Hampshire, and Hartford, Vermont, including the unincorporated village of White River Junction.
Advance Transit was created in 1981 following the failure of the for-profit Tri-Town Bus Company. In 1977 the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Council (now the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission) completed a Transit Development Plan for a non-profit public transportation system covering a larger service area. The Plan was endorsed by the State of New Hampshire, and Advance Transit was then formed as a program of the Upper Valley Senior Citizens Council. In 1984 Advance Transit incorporated as a separate non-profit entity.
All routes have been fare free since 2003. Service is provided on all routes on weekdays, and the Blue, Red, Orange, and Green routes operate on Saturdays. Trip planning via Advance Transit is available on Google Maps.[2]
Advance Transit works to make travel across state line seamless. Many who ride the bus see the buses as another form community…a town square.
They have 40 bus drivers on staff and a highly skilled maintenance team. Their garage is located in Wilder near the Hartford. Near Dothan Brook School.
Carroll reports that the expansion of hours into the evening and on Saturdays is going well, and appreciated by our community members, especially those who do not have easy access to other forms of transportation.
Carroll reviewed their fare-free model, and how it makes the system work more efficiently. From a PowerPoint slide he presented:
Why fare-free? This free service is part of a broader effort to:
- Give broader access to transit for the community.
- Decrease traffic congestion.
- Reduce local and regional air pollution.
- Reduce parking demand.
- Create a more efficient and timely boarding process.
We dedicated Harmony Park on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Here are some pictures from the dedication.
The day has arrived!
Rotary Tent on the Mall Next to Village Pizza
Rotarians and Community Members
, 
Jim Damren, Willie Koppenheffer, Dean Cashman and President Ed Friedman
Phil Rentz
Ron Bedell
City of Lebanon Mayor Tim MacNamara
Rotary District 7850 — 2023/2024 District Governor Susan Cherry
2023/2024 President David Crandall (Our Centennial Chair!)
Lebanon Rotary Board of Director and Charites Trustees Member Marion Steiner
Rotarian Hank Clark
Now on to community members, adults and kids, enjoying our new park
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