"Los Angeles airport renovation to get Palmdale airing"

Monday, August 18, 2003

L.A. airport renovation to get Palmdale airing
By ALLISON GATLIN 
The Antelope Valley (CA) Press


PALMDALE - Residents will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed $9
billion renovation plan for Los Angeles International Airport at a public
hearing from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Palmdale Regional Airport Terminal,
41000 20th St. East.

The plan, unveiled in July, is an alternative to the LAX Master Plan
proposed by Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn. It focuses on enhanced safety and
security formulated following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. and is
designed to accommodate 78.9 million passengers each year, along with 3.1
million tons of cargo.

Hahn has voiced support for using regional airports - including Palmdale -
to meet Southern California's air travel needs without expanding LAX.

The Palmdale airport, adjacent to Air Force Plant 42, is owned by Los
Angeles World Airports, which also is responsible for LAX and Van Nuys and
Ontario airports.

In announcing the start of the master plan process for the Palmdale airport
last year, Hahn said, "It is time to intensify planning to develop Palmdale
Regional Airport as an important element in our regional approach."

Many other opponents of expanding LAX also support a regional airport plan.

"We always believed that the expected growth in regional aviation demand in
Southern California could and should be accommodated at multiple or other
airports in the region," El Segundo Mayor Mike Gordon said when the
alternate plan was unveiled last month. "We believe that Southern California
needs a truly regional airport plan that includes LAX but does not
concentrate on LAX."

In addition to the public hearings, written comments may be submitted to
David B. Kessler, AICP, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation
Administration, P.O. Box 92007, World Way Postal Center, Los Angeles, CA
90009-2007.

Written comments also may be sent to Jim Ritchie, City of Los Angeles, Los
Angeles World Airports, LAX Master Plan Office, P.O. Box 92216, Los Angeles,
CA 90009-2216.

The deadline for comment is 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, but the Los Angeles
Board of Airport Commissioners has approved an extension, pending approval
by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The extension to 120 days was made at the request of Hahn, the Los Angeles
City Council and numerous civic and community groups interested in the
project.

Hahn also requested that three additional public hearings be scheduled in
the fall, possibly in October or November.


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