Councilwoman urges Valley to lobby for airport

That was the message Los Angeles Councilwoman Ruth Galanter brought with her Tuesday to a meeting at the Palmdale Regional Airport terminal. Supporters of a larger role for Palmdale in solving LAX's air traffic flow problems asked her to give them insight into how Palmdale can become a player.

"An awful lot of growth is going to occur here," Galanter told about 60 people who attended the catered luncheon, sponsored by the Palmdale Regional Airport Advisory Council.

But civic and community leaders must play an active role now to be a part of tomorrow's solutions, Galanter said. The councilwoman had a few suggestions on how to make the case for Palmdale.

Urge members of the California congressional delegation to work with the Federal Aviation Administration in determining the finite limit of air traffic at Los Angeles International Airport. At the same time, begin developing Palmdale to handle future air traffic.

Work with the L.A. Airport Commission on development of the LAX master plan, which is under way.

Confer with cargo transportation interests - air, rail and trucking - with a view toward developing Palmdale as a cargo hub. The Southern California Association of Governments is working to develop freight transportation solutions.

Ronald J. Kochevar, manager for the Palmdale and Van Nuys airports, said Galanter's visit was "very positive."

"Col. Peter Drinkwater, Plant 42 base commander, took her around the base and gave her a briefing on the projects. She gave us a lot of positive ways to get things done with the Department of Airports," Kochevar said.

Galanter's council district embraces LAX, and its boundary line is near the Santa Monica Airport. Many of her constituents are concerned about LAX expansion, but when she talks to FAA officials they won't set a definitive limit on the ultimate capacity of the airport, she said.

Without a cap, she is concerned that "LAX will be crippled and we won't have another place to go."

The councilwoman said she sees a need for future-growth airports both in the Antelope Valley and the Inland Empire.

A council member for the past eight years, Galanter said that she has been dreading that "inevitable moment" when LAX would be operating at full capacity, and she believes the moment is "already here."

An FAA official told her that if traffic gets too heavy, planes will simply have to be held on the ground longer - an option she feels is unacceptable.

Galanter, who said she is interested in more job development in the L.A. Basin, the Antelope Valley and the Inland Empire, expressed empathy for long-distance commuters who "never see their children in daylight."

Many officials say frequent train service is essential to development of Palmdale Airport, but rail transportation will not develop until there is a substantial market, Galanter said.

The councilwoman said she would prefer more lanes on the freeway to speed ground access to Palmdale Airport than wait for rail to build up a presence here.

As one of 15 council members, Galanter said it is difficult to get much help from other members lobbying for Palmdale Airport development, which can only be done by the separate Department of Airports Commission.

A resident of Los Angeles since 1970, the councilwoman holds a master's degree in urban planning from Yale.