Work To Be Completed By December Of This Year

At the Santa Monica Council meeting on Wednesday, May 24, the Council selected a design to shorten the runway at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) to 3,500 feet, which is in accordance with the provisions included in the Consent Decree, the settlement agreement reached between the City of Santa Monica and the FAA.

The Council was presented with two feasible design options. One option, “easterly alignment”, would have moved the west end of the runway 1,035 feet to the east and the east end 438 feet to the west. The second option, “center option”, eliminates approximately 736 feet from each end of the existing runway. Both options would also require the creation of six new taxiways within already utilized and paved areas of the Airport, at regular spacing along the re-aligned 3,500-feet runway, providing improved safety for arriving aircraft taxiing off the runway. The Council unanimously selected the centered option.

Council also directed staff to proceed with preparing detailed drawings and return with a guaranteed maximum price construction bid. The new runway will:

• Be shortened to 3,500 feet in length (currently 5,000 feet)
• Comply with FAA safety standards that the existing runway does not meet
• Reduce larger jet traffic by an estimated 44%
• Reduce larger jet noise and air pollution
• Be completed and operational by December 2017

In a separate action, the Council directed staff to return as soon as possible, with project options to remove the eliminated portions of the runway. Council would consider proposed project options at a later meeting, including any CEQA implications.

Mayor Ted Winterer stated, “Santa Monica remains firm on our commitment to honor the terms outlined in our agreement with the FAA. The action of the City Council today will improve conditions at SMO and reduce jet noise and air pollution impacts on surrounding neighborhoods until the airport closes in 2028. The new 3,500 foot runway will provide much needed relief to residents of Santa Monica and Los Angeles. We are on track to safely shorten the runway by December 2017.”

(Image provided with City of Santa Monica news release)

FMI: www.smgov.net