Airport Officials Drop Plan for Expansion Into Bay

Los Angeles International Airport officials have dropped a controversial plan to build two runways into Santa Monica Bay as one of its options to expand the facility.

John J. Driscoll, executive director of the Department of Airports, said that possibility was rejected because it would take at least 10 years to plan and build the runways and because the airport was considering the environmental effects of expanding into the bay.

“We recognize that the LAX master plan is not just about jobs,” Driscoll said. “It needs to be balanced with the environment and the quality of life.”

Putting runways into the bay was one of five proposals for expanding the airport. The remaining four proposals will be presented to the public next month. Public workshops will then be held in surrounding communities. After that, an environmental impact report will be completed before a final decision is made.

The airport master plan is designed to chart expansion during the next 20 years to accommodate the growing number of passengers. Last year, 54 million passengers used the airport, up 5.6% from 1994. Airport officials said passenger service in the first half of this year increased 8.8% over last year. By 2015, 98 million passengers are expected to use the airport annually.

Dropping the option to use the Santa Monica Bay, however, will limit the airport’s ability to handle the increasing number of passengers and cargo, said Dan Garcia, president of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners.

“We will not be able to meet our capacity of 98 million by 2015,” he said, noting that the airport will not be expanding into El Segundo or Westchester.

However, airport officials said they are considering land east of the airport and have been talking to Inglewood officials about possible expansion into that city.

The decision to spare the Santa Monica Bay pleased environmentalists.

“I’m glad to see that common sense has finally landed at our airport,” said Terry Tamminen, executive director of Santa Monica Baykeeper, an environmental group.