LAX: Big plans amid protest

Neighbors hoping for expansion alternative

Environmental studies for the expansion of LAX were expected to be complete last fall, but now won't be ready until early next year, said Niki Tennant, spokeswoman for L.A. City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter. Her boss represents voters adjacent to the airport, and opposes the expansion project.

"The coalition of 88 cities and agencies has effectively communicated its opposition to the master plan envisioned by the mayor and (Los Angeles World Airports)," Tennant said.

Los Angeles International, known to many by its baggage tag abbreviation of LAX, is the fourthlargest airport in the world, with 2,100 flights per day, said Rick Wells of Los Angeles World Airports, the branch of city government responsible for the airport's operation.

LAWA also owns and operates Ontario International Airport, which opened two new passenger terminals a year ago, as well as the Van Nuys and Palmdale regional airports. Neither Van Nuys or Palmdale offer passenger service.

Van Nuys Regional Airport is a hub for general aviation, while Palmdale Regional Airport, which sits on a portion of Air Force Plant 42, is not in use.

In 1966, LAWA's predecessor, the L.A. Department of Airports, bought 17,750 acres of land directly east of Plant 42. Its intention was to build a new airport to ease pressure at LAX, but the new Palmdale airport has never been developed.

LAWA invested mightily in Ontario International's recent upgrades, with two terminal buildings completed last September for $270 million. Approval has been given for a third Ontario terminal as needed, and there's still room for a fourth terminal, though more environmental work will need to be done before it could be built.

Large-scale LAWA investment at Van Nuys Regional Airport isn't likely, since it, like LAX, is hemmed in on all sides. According to the LAWA master plan, which looks ahead to 2015, no large-scale investment is planned for Palmdale, either.

Instead, LAWA will focus on the 130 acres it hasn't yet developed at LAX, and find a way to squeeze more runways in the space it has. New runway configurations differ slightly among the three plans being considered for approval.

Part of the expansion includes a new 6 million-square-foot terminal to sit at the west end of the airfield. Such a structure would more than double the airport's current capacity.

A new LAX Expressway is also part of the plan. It would give highway-speed access to the new West Terminal from the 405 Freeway both north and south of the airport, easing the type of congestion currently found on Century Boulevard, which is the airport's main access road today.

Improvements will be funded primarily by facility fees paid by every air passenger, concession income and landing fees.

Last year, LAWA made what many consider to be a good-faith effort to study the feasibility of expanding Palmdale Regional Airport when it hosted a two-day summit to study Palmdale's future.

Predictions on the first day were rosy, saying Palmdale could host tens of thousands of passengers in coming years. But on the second day, airline industry officials rained on the budding optimism when they said Palmdale will not become a viable alternative to LAX or Burbank any time soon.