Expansion Plans for Burbank Airport

Re “Time to Yield on Curfew,” April 19.

If the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority really wants to increase safety at the airport, they should not talk about expanding the terminal. Instead, they should just relocate the terminal and limit air traffic over densely populated Burbank and the San Fernando Valley. More air traffic inevitably increases the risk of an accident.

Noise, pollution and traffic all negatively impact a person’s quality of life. If the airport authority is permitted to move forward with its proposed expansion without any future constraints on the number of flights, the time of flights or the type of aircraft, it will profoundly affect residents every day and night. Burbank has a responsibility to protect its residents from this imminent threat.

Burbank is not alone in this battle. Over the years, negative impacts emanating from the airport have affected residents throughout the Valley. That’s why the leadership of homeowners groups in Encino and other [communities] throughout the Valley continue to express concern over the airport authority’s unconstrained expansion plans. It’s also why the city of Los Angeles joined Burbank in its lawsuit challenging the environmental impact statement for the proposed expansion. And it’s why Caltrans filed a legal brief that was highly critical of the authority’s token actions to reduce noise. The California attorney general also continues to support the city’s legal position.

Burbank has vigorously fought to protect its residents, and it will continue to do so. There is no question that the stakes involved are worth fighting for. While the airport authority has consistently refused to put any kind of proposal on the bargaining table, Burbank has been reasonable, flexible and put forth a number of creative proposals. However, it takes two to reach an agreement, and the authority has been unyielding in its position.

Measuring and reducing noise is a complex issue and Burbank knows that. FAA Administrator Jane Garvey has offered her personal assistance to resolve the dispute, and we will continue to seek creative solutions. However, if there is to be any solution, the airport authority must accept that airport growth cannot continue uncontrolled. With the election of a new mayor in Burbank and the upcoming election of a new president of the airport authority, now is the time to take a fresh look at controlling growth at the airport.

DAVE GOLONSKI, Burbank Mayor