$2.5 Million Given Burbank Airport to Start on Terminal

After a one-year delay, the Federal Aviation Administration has allocated $2.5 million to Burbank Airport to begin acquisition of land for a new terminal building to replace the airport’s 55-year-old structure.

With the addition of federal tax monies generated at the airport, about $9 million will be available for land acquisition over the next three years, according to a contract accepted Monday by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority.

Federal Tax

The airport expects to earn about $6.6 million through 1987 from a federal tax on airline passenger tickets. The airport receives the tax money based on the number of passengers served, and the federal government has approved the airport’s proposal to spend it to acquire land.

The grant made final this week stems from the airport’s application for $5 million of the money the federal government distributes each year to airport improvement projects around the nation. Federal officials agreed last year to give the airport half its request, but U. S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Studio City) blocked the grant.

Berman said he wanted the airport to more evenly distribute jetliner noise over the San Fernando Valley by directing more traffic toward Burbank and Glendale. After the airport announced that it would study ways of reducing noise, Berman did not oppose the grant this year.

Land Acquisition

Airport spokesman Victor Gill said the grant and ticket-tax allocation will provide $4.6 million in 1985 for land acquisition. He said airport officials will apply for another grant next year, but have not determined the amount.

The terminal replacement project is expected to cost more than $40 million. Airport authority members have been negotiating with Lockheed Corp. for a year to acquire 37.2 acres north of the existing building to use for the new terminal

Too Close to Runways

The FAA has ordered the airport to replace the old building because it is too close to runways. No estimate has been made on the cost of acquiring a new site for the terminal, but airport officials have said the grant and tax funds might be used for a down payment.