LAX Needs Light Rail, Panel Told

Los Angeles World Airports Chief Lydia H. Kennard linked extension of light rail to Los Angeles International Airport with a controversial airport expansion plan Tuesday, saying that one project wouldn’t go forward without the other.

Kennard told members of the California Transportation Commission that extension of the Green Line to the airport was a key part of the airport’s still-developing master plan.

The $10-billion to $12-billion master plan would be implemented over 15 years and would allow the airport to increase passenger trips from the current 63 million to 89 million per year.

But it has drawn heated opposition from communities around the airport. El Segundo has filed a suit to halt some airport projects now under construction. Other suits are predicted if the master plan ultimately is approved by the Los Angeles City Council after what is expected to be a lengthy environmental review process next year.

When Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan--airport expansion’s biggest booster--leaves office next year, critics hope the master plan will die for lack of political support.

In any case, Kennard told members of the state commission that the airport was facing “gridlock” if nothing is done.

“We are fundamentally facing a crisis in this region,” she said. “If we do nothing at LAX . . . what we will have is traffic congestion beyond what we have today, flight delays and just incredible gridlock.”

She said that, even if an airport is built in El Toro, in Orange County, and if other regional airports grow significantly, the Los Angeles airport will still face massive congestion problems unless it grows appreciably.

After the meeting, Kennard said she was “very optimistic” that she could win converts to the master plan after Riordan leaves office.

The Green Line now runs east-west down the Century Freeway, then turns south just beyond the San Diego Freeway, missing the airport. The master plan would extend the Green Line west into the airport and connect it to a new airport terminal envisioned in the master plan.