Councilwoman wants airport plan in writing

Galanter on Thursday called for a plan to be prepared in writing within six months to ensure that the airport does reopen.

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford and Jane Garvey of the Federal Aviation Administration on Oct. 1 announced a "cooperation agreement" to restore passenger service and expand cargo facilities at Palmdale Regional Airport. No timeline for achieving those goals was discussed.

Having a plan in place will prove that Los Angeles and Palmdale are committed to channeling future air traffic away from Los Angeles International Airport and into Palmdale, Galanter said.

Galanter, whose 6th District lies on the north side of LAX, is opposed to that airport's expansion, and wants the cities to put up cash to ensure last week's announcement is more than just lip service.

"We need to see a real investment plan for Palmdale Airport that actually puts teeth into last week's announcement," Galanter said.

At Wednesday's L.A. City Council meeting, Galanter called on the city's airport department - Los Angeles World Airports - to produce a specific plan for the development of Palmdale Regional Airport. A vote on her request is expected next week by the council, which will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

LAWA owns more than 17,000 acres of desert east of Air Force Plant 42 that it intends to develop into an airport. For now, LAWA has an agreement to operate 40 flights a day out of Air Force Plant 42, but no air carriers currently serve Palmdale.

Galanter's proposal calls for a plan that includes a timeline and budget for an environmental impact report, terminal facilities and marketing for Palmdale Regional Airport's operations at Plant 42.

The Oct. 1 announcement made public an agreement between the two cities that will provide an easement for a future access road to Palmdale Regional Airport, joint political support for a high-speed rail route through Palmdale and the establishment of a Palmdale Regional Airport working group.

The agreement came out of a study commissioned by Los Angeles World Airports that looked at the feasibility of developing Palmdale Regional Airport to meet regional air capacity needs.

The study forecast future growth potential of Palmdale Regional Airport to be 4 million annual passengers by 2010 and 7 million annual passengers by 2020.

"So far, LAWA has spent millions of dollars on consultants for the LAX master plan," Galanter said. "Now that they have finally acknowledged the need to include our other regional airports, they need to put some substance behind their verbal commitment.

"I am calling on LAWA to produce an environmental impact report that coincides with the release of LAX's master plan EIR so that we can truly determine how to handle our future airport needs in a regional way rather than in a piecemeal manner. If we can commit $100 million to beautification efforts at LAX, certainly we can come up with a serious plan that includes significant funds to take care of our region's need for more airports."

Galanter's motion calls for LAWA to come back to the City Council within six months with the requested information.