
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 23, 1990                   TAG: 9003232050
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV8   EDITION: NEW RIVER 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                 LENGTH: Short

AIRPORT IDEA SURPRISES TOWN OFFICIALS

Town officials were a bit surprised at Roanoke County Supervisor Bob Johnson's suggestion Wednesday that Blacksburg join the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission.

Mayor Roger Hedgepeth said Blacksburg officials have not discussed a role on the commission in the past 24 months and he knew of no plans to do so.

A March 8 survey showed that 51 of 498 passengers were from Blacksburg - the same number as from Roanoke and only five below Roanoke County's figure.

But Tech's spring break began the day after the survey, and Hedgepeth said that may have skewed the numbers.

A weeklong survey in January 1985 showed 8.1 percent of passengers were from Blacksburg. Roanoke County had nearly 16 percent and Roanoke had 8.6 percent.

"I know full well they would like to have money," Hedgepeth said, "but I'm not sure what benefits accrue to voting members." Roanoke would maintain a majority on the commission no matter how many other localities join. Roanoke County is the only other member.

Hedgepeth said he'd like to see another carrier at the airport, and that it's hard to get flights to some other cities, such as Washington.

by CNB