L.A. council puts airport hopes on horizon

Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford, told of the L.A. City Council members' response to queries from the Valley Press, said he will provide whatever information the council members want.

"That is delightful news. I guess I could not have hoped for a better review. If the council members are interested, it could give us a shot before the LAX Master Plan is released," Ledford said.

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan wants the proposed expansion to double the traffic capacity at LAX, and ousted two of his city airport commissioners to begin a better sales job, according to published reports.

Despite a million-dollar public relations effort to build support for the LAX expansion, the master plan hasn't gone over well in communities neighboring the airport.

Eight L.A. City Council members interviewed by the Valley Press said they are interested at looking at regional solutions to air transportation needs - including potential expansion of Palmdale Regional Airport.

Two of five council members firmly in favor of LAX expansion are also among the eight who want to look at regional solutions.

And five of the 15 city council members and their staffs are beginning to research LAX expansion and regional transportation issues before engaging in policy discussions.

Palmdale supporters
Councilman Joel Wachs, Ruth Galanter and Jackie Goldberg all favor a much larger role for Palmdale, despite the airport's loss last month of its sole commercial air carrier.

"I very much would like to see Palmdale become a major airport and I have urged the Department of Airports to more precisely determine what it would take to make that happen," said Wachs, the council's president pro-tem.

Antelope Valley officials need to intensify efforts to bring attention to the vast acreage and facilities in Palmdale, Galanter said.

Potential passenger draws from the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys and the expansive growth in the northern areas of Los Angeles County can bolster the argument, she said.

To critics who say Palmdale is too far from Los Angeles, Galanter argues travel times from North L.A. County to Palmdale are less than on the congested 405 Freeway to LAX.

Galanter said Palmdale is included in LAX studies to find out what will make the airport viable. And she added that the Los Angeles Department of World Airports is committed to hiring a person whose sole responsibility will be marketing Palmdale.

As enthusiastic as Galanter is about Palmdale and other regional airports, she said she is troubled that LAX expansion would only worsen traffic and pollution.

Councilwoman Goldberg argues that Palmdale is not limited by its distance from LAX. She said Dulles International Airport is farther from Washington, D.C., than Palmdale is from LAX.

However, highways and transportation infrastructure are matters the state must help Palmdale resolve before expansive growth come to the desert city, the councilwoman said.

Goldberg also has a reason to want areas like Palmdale to pick up some of the regional air traffic. She grew up in Inglewood and she has strong feelings about trying to preserve the city and head off plans for grandiose LAX expansion.

Regional essentials
Council President John Ferraro supports both LAX growth and expansion of regional airports such as Palmdale Regional Airport.

"I think LAX expansion is something that is needed. Through the process and analysis of the process will dictate what we can and can't do," he said.

Development at Palmdale and other regional airports is something Ferraro would like to see. But he said growth in Palmdale is limited by lack of infrastructure to move people to and from the core of Los Angeles to Palmdale.

But Palmdale Mayor Ledford said he has the answer there:

"We've actually got a 12-point plan to help position Palmdale as a regional airport. We basically want to partner with the Los Angeles City Council and Department of World Airports to meet those challenges."

Better airport access through an Avenue P-8 alignment, improvements to the 14 Freeway and Pearblossom Highway are some approaches to moving traffic flows from all points of the compass, Ledford said.

He may have an ally in Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who wants to see a regional transportation plan before talks get under way about LAX expansion.

Ground traffic could limit LAX expansion, she said, and a broader view than 15 years is required for a true long-range plan.

Expansion eminent
Councilman Mike Hernandez said he's pro-LAX expansion because the airport must grow.

"There is no question we have to expand LAX to accommodate increased visitor growth that could double in passenger count and triple in cargo. In reality we have to expand, or we will face gridlock," he said.

However, Hernandez also favors looking at expansion of other regional airports including Palmdale's. Viability of Palmdale might require transportation improvements and a bullet train that could be 15 years or more in the future, he added.

Councilman Richard Alarcon also supports LAX expansion.

"Obviously we need to provide sufficient flexibility for LAX to manage growth. It's not a question of if LAX will expand. It must," he said.

Alarcon doesn't see Palmdale as a destination in 10 years, but believes Palmdale needs to position itself for growth with better infrastructure. Good transportation could lead to Palmdale seizing more business because business could be provided there less expensively and with less congestion.

Where's Palmdale, again?
While L.A. council members are aware of Palmdale, not all of them are familiar with Palmdale Regional Airport and what it has to offer.

"Is Palmdale where they have all the space stuff?," wonders Los Angeles Councilman Nate Holden.

"I was there once to see a satellite launch," Holden said.

"You mean the space shuttle landing at Edwards in the early 1980s?"

"Yes, that's what I saw," Holden replies.

Holden said he's withholding judgment on LAX expansion until the issue comes to the council.

Making plans
Before the LAX Master Plan goes to the city council sometime next year, council staff members are busy defining the issues.

Councilman Michael Feuer directed a staff member to begin looking at Los Angeles International Airport's expansion plans and related issues, said Daniel Hinerfeld, Feuer's deputy.

"It is premature for us right now to weigh-in on LAX expansion policy because we have a staff member looking at it. In the near future we will finish formulating our policy," Hinerfeld said.

That's also true for councilwoman Laura Chick and Rita Walters.

"The Los Angeles City Council must carefully weigh the impacts an expansion plan will have on the surrounding communities and determine the most appropriate way to proceed. Any expansion of LAX must also be a part of the larger regional plan," Chick said.

"However, because the Department of Airports is currently still analyzing several different expansion options, it is premature to take a formal position in support of any of the options now being considered by the Department," she added.

Walters, who has visited Palmdale, but never the airport, said she, too, is looking at airport expansion information before reaching a verdict.

Council members said they understand the long-term consequences of LAX decisions.

"The expansion of the Los Angeles International Airport is one of the most significant issues facing the Los Angeles region," Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas said.

"My decision as to whether or not to support the expansion will be informed by my review of the potential costs and benefits associated with this project, as well as any input from residents of the 8th Council District whose quality of life will be directly impacted by an expansion of the airport," RidleyThomas added.

Infrastructure
Councilman Richard Alarcon said Palmdale Regional Airport development is limited not only by shortcomings in infrastructure and passenger counts, but also because he doesn't perceive explosive population growth anticipated in Palmdale.

And LAX expansion is required because Palmdale will not soon be ready for millions of passengers.

Councilman Hal Bernson favors expansion at LAX, but also wants Palmdale Regional Airport developed, said his aide Ali Sar.

That sentiment is shared by Councilman Richard Alatorre, who said he wants both LAX and Palmdale to grow. However, Alatorre sees LAX expansion as essential to the financial well being of the region, said Louisa Campano, an Alatorre spokesman.

Councilman Rudy Svorinich Jr. said LAX expansion is imminent, according to staff aide Barry Glick.