12 House Members Oppose Massive LAX Expansion

A bipartisan coalition of 12 Southern California House members on Thursday expressed strong opposition to a major expansion of Los Angeles International Airport, calling instead for a more regional approach to the area’s air transportation needs.

Led by Reps. Jane Harman (D-Redondo Beach) and Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), the group released a letter sent to U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta that said the proposed $12-billion expansion of LAX would only add to air pollution, noise levels and traffic congestion.

Greater use of some of the 12 other airports in the region would help distribute “the benefits and burdens of air transportation across the region,” the lawmakers said in their joint statement.

The letter to Mineta--a longtime House member from San Jose--asked for his support “as we address the transportation needs of our region and nation.”

The signers included Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), who supports Orange County’s plans for a new airport at the closed El Toro Marine base.

At a news conference, Harman said, “We must have the support of the Department of Transportation and its component, the Federal Aviation Administration, to certify the air safety of a regional plan.”

Federal officials should encourage airlines to move flights to airports in Ontario, Palmdale, Victorville and other communities, she said.

An aide said Mineta would take the letter under study.

Another lawmaker who signed the letter, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands), said he plans to question Mineta about the LAX issue when the department’s budget for the next fiscal year comes before the House Appropriations Committee.

If the plan for expanding LAX progresses, influential California House members such as Lewis could have the power to block federal funds for the project.

The LAX expansion has the support of outgoing Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, but has been bogged down by community and environmental opposition.

The current airport was designed to handle 40 million passengers a year but last year served 67 million passengers. The expansion would allow about 98 million passengers a year through LAX.

In March, officials of six Southern California counties adopted the regional aviation proposal to cap LAX at 78 million passengers a year and push future airport growth to outlying areas. The plan envisioned a major expansion at Ontario International Airport and construction of the new airport at El Toro.

Jim Ritchie, in charge of planning for LAX, said city officials agree with the need to develop other airports in the region, noting the LAX expansion would accommodate only a quarter of the region’s expected demand.

But he and other supporters of LAX expansion argue that the airport must be modernized to improve passenger service and to continue to create jobs and economic activity.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, whose district includes LAX, chairs the Southern California Regional Airport Authority, revived in recent months with help from Orange County Supervisor Chuck Smith to push regional airport planning.

Times staff writer Jean O. Pasco contributed to this report.