Would Help Clear The Way For Airport Improvements To Move Forward

Los Angeles, CA Mayor Eric Garcetti joined Councilmember Mike Bonin, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) on Wednesday to announce a tentative Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that would end lengthy litigation with community organization Alliance for a Regional Solution to Airport Congestion (ARSAC) over modernization plans at LAX. The MOU between LAWA and the Alliance for a Regional Solution to Airport Congestion (ARSAC) would be a landmark agreement that would help clear the path for billions of dollars in investment to modernize LAX — including the proposed plan to bring rail to the airport — while bringing long-sought neighborhood resources to the communities of Westchester and Playa del Rey. If approved by the City Council, the MOU will usher in a new era of cooperation between LAWA and the local community.

"All Angelenos deserve livable neighborhoods — whether they’re quiet and secluded, or next to one of the world’s largest airports," said Mayor Garcetti. "Our goal in this process has always been to reach a compromise that helps us strengthen and enhance the Westchester and Playa del Rey communities while pursuing a world-class modernization of LAX. After years of hard work, I am proud that we have reached this tentative agreement together. LAWA would commit to implementing and studying a variety of safety improvements on the airport’s north airfield and would identify a site for a new air quality monitoring station."

"We did it! This proposed agreement would formalize our intent to modernize LAX in cooperation with local neighborhoods, and it is great news for Westchester, Playa del Rey and the millions of passengers who travel through LAX," said Councilmember Mike Bonin. "When I first ran for office, I promised to modernize LAX by prioritizing the projects on which there was broad agreement, like improving the terminals, connecting LAX to Metro, and common-sense safety improvements to the runways that didn't move them north. This agreement would allow for those critical improvements to our airport and the surrounding neighborhoods, and would help make LAX the world-class airport and first class neighbor that every resident of Los Angeles deserves."

"I respect the many community leaders who have advocated so passionately for LAX to be a good neighbor while implementing its long term goals to provide Los Angeles with a 21st century airport, said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, chair of the Council’s Innovation, Grants, Technology, Commerce and Trade Committee. I congratulate LAWA, my colleague Councilmember Bonin, and Mayor Garcetti, all of whom worked long and hard to find common ground to make sure that LAX is the premier airport that Los Angeles deserves."

"This is great news for LAX, the traveling public, airport neighbors, and regional aviation," said Board of Airport Commissioners Vice President Valeria Velasco, who represents the Westchester and Playa del Rey communities located north of LAX. "This agreement shows what we can accomplish when we work together to build the future of our economy and preserve the unique character of L.A.’s neighborhoods."

If approved, the agreement would allow the airport to move forward through local, state and federal environmental reviews, approvals, and implementation without ARSAC litigation on its proposed Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP), improvements to passenger gate facilities, and airfield safety enhancements.

"I am proud of my team and appreciative of the efforts of all who put aside differences to draft an agreement that would allow LAWA to move forward with a community-sensitive plan for LAMP that would relieve the growing traffic congestion in and around LAX, allow us to implement airfield safety measures, and improve the guest experience with new gate facilities," said LAWA Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint.

"We have been the strongest advocate for fixing and improving service at LAX and to make it safe," said Denny Schneider, President of ARSAC. "This is a great day for L.A. because LAWA is now updating needed landside terminals and public access to LAX along with significant taxiway improvements and upgraded electronics."

Under the tentative MOU, ARSAC has agreed it will not directly or indirectly commence, prosecute or fund any lawsuits or administrative complaints that could delay, prevent, impede, alter or affect in any way the approval or implementation of several projects, including LAMP.

The proposed $5.5 billion Landside Access Modernization Program includes five major program elements: the Automated People Mover that would connect three on-airport stations to Metro Rail and transit services – providing a seamless connection to public transportation; a new consolidated Rent-A Car center; two Intermodal Transportation Facilities for additional parking, meeter-greeter activities; and roadway improvements to access the new facilities.

The tentative MOU will be heard by the full City Council on Wednesday, Aug. 24.

(Source: LAWA news release. Image from file)

FMI: www.lawa.org, www.lacity.org, www.connectinglax.com