Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe today announced his disappointment in the conclusions reached by studies commissioned by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) that called for moving the northernmost runway at LAX at least 340 feet north into the communities of Westchester and Playa del Rey.
"While I expressed cautious optimism at the settlement agreement we reached with the City of Los Angeles over its previous expansion plans, the move to push the north runway 340 feet further north at the expense of the Westchester and Playa del Rey communities puts that agreement in jeopardy and puts us back at square one."
Supervisor Knabe noted that each report came to the same conclusion with little, if any, discussion of available alternatives.
"Without discussion of a range of alternatives, the sole purpose of these reports appears to be an attempt to justify the expansion of flight operations for larger aircraft to land on the north runways rather than addressing a current safety issue, especially since the reports show that over 80% of incursion hazards have occurred on the south runways. Moreover, the studies show that current runway safety controls on the northside sufficiently mitigate existing risks."
As a result, Supervisor Knabe called for further consideration of all alternatives and a review of the reports by incoming LAWA Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey.
"I continue to be strongly opposed to the movement of the north runways unless it can be shown to fix a proven safety hazard. Movement of the north runways by 340 feet would do irreparable harm to the communities of Westchester and Playa del Rey which I cannot support and which goes against the spirit of the settlement agreement. LAWA can and must find better alternatives that we all can live with."
More Information
LAX North Airfield Proposed Runway Configurations – Safety Risk Assessment
Analysis of LAX North Airfield Alternative
North Airfield Assessment
LAX Modernization – Tomorrow Is Now LAX North Airfield Special Peer Review