SCAG team boosts outlying airports

The Transportation Committee of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) voted Thursday on a plan drafted by staff members that supports a "decentralized" scenario of airport growth.

Roughly two-thirds of the 30-plus member committee voted for the SCAG staff plan.

The vote is essentially an assault on a plan put forth by LAWA and supported by L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan. LAWA owns and operates several airports in the region, including LAX and Palmdale.

While the LAWA expansion proposal doesn't call for adding a runway, it does allow for lengthening of runways and taxiways and terminal expansion.

Several officials from cities surrounding LAX are opposed to any plans to expand LAX.

Opponents of LAX expansion have focused attention on diverting air traffic to outlying regional airports, such as Palmdale.

One official in particular is L.A. Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, who delivered her comments in writing to committee members before the vote.

"Any plan that allows LAX to grow beyond 78 million annual passengers puts an end to the whole effort at regional planning that is the reason for SCAG's existence," Galanter wrote.

Estimates show up to 157 million air passengers per year traveling in and out of the region by 2020. Currently, 67 million passengers fly in or out of LAX each year.

Galanter and other officials support plans to expand regional airports, such as the one in Palmdale.

Palmdale has not seen air service at its regional airport facility in more than two years.

The transportation committee vote sends the plan to the SCAG council, which is scheduled to take a vote in May.

A draft environmental impact statement/environmental impact report outlining LAX expansion plans has gone into circulation for a 180-day public review period. It outlines the findings of a five-year effort to map out LAX expansion in preparation for growth in air traffic demand on the area.