MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA ANNOUNCES HISTORIC SETTLEMENT OF LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MASTER PLAN LAWSUITS

12/01/2005 12:00 AM

MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA ANNOUNCES HISTORIC SETTLEMENT OF LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MASTER PLAN LAWSUITS

 

(Los Angeles, California -- December 1, 2005) Negotiators for the City of Los Angeles and five plaintiffs in lawsuits against the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Master Plan have reached a consensus on the airport’s future, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa announced today.

The historic settlement in principle is subject to ratification by the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners; the city councils of Los Angeles, Culver City, El Segundo and Inglewood; the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; and the board of the Alliance for a Regional Solution to Airport Congestion (ARSAC). It is also subject to “a statement of non-objection” from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on one aspect of the settlement.

After final ratification, expected within six weeks, the plaintiffs will drop their state and federal lawsuits, beginning an extraordinary era of peace between the airport and the surrounding communities.

Mayor Villaraigosa hailed the global settlement as a major breakthrough in enhancing and protecting the quality of life of LAX neighbors, while still improving airport safety and operations at the international gateway airport.

“I am elated that at long last we have the ability to move forward with a rational, community-sensitive plan for LAX that allows for sensible improvements for the people of Los Angeles and millions of world travelers who depend on it,” the mayor said. “I look forward to working closely with the Board of Airport Commissioners and (Los Angeles World Airports) Executive Director Lydia Kennard to implement my vision of a world-class airport for a world-class city.”

The settlement will remove potential litigation obstacles so that Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) can begin construction in early 2006 on the LAX South Airfield Improvement Project, which addresses the issue of safety and runway incursions. The settlement also provides that, during the next three years, LAWA will develop new plans for future airport construction consistent with the Mayor’s vision.

Government and community officials from throughout the region hailed the settlement in principle as a major milestone in the development of Southern California airports.

“This is a great day for LAX, for airport neighbors and for regional aviation,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, whose 11th Council District encompasses LAX. “After years of controversy, we can now move forward on modernizing and securing LAX while directing growth and increased air traffic to the rest of the region."

Representative Maxine Waters, whose 35th Congressional District encompasses LAX, said, “I can finally breathe a sigh of relief that our great City is moving forward in the best interest of the community, the traveling public and the region. I look forward to working with our City in guiding the airport’s future direction.”

Representative Jane Harman, 36th Congressional District and Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said, “We’ve finally broken through this logjam, which is real progress, but my focus remains on the security issues that plague LAX, including short-term, low-cost security improvements recommended by RAND almost three years ago and details for a regional aviation build out.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe said, "The future of LAX impacts a vast region that extends far beyond the airport fence. This settlement represents a balanced approach to future growth, as well as addresses the concerns expressed by the County and the cities surrounding the airport."

El Segundo Mayor Kelly McDowell added, "El Segundo has fought LAX and its plans for unconstrained growth for nearly ten years now. At the same time our city has gathered and led a broad-based coalition to support a truly regional aviation plan. Today's breakthrough agreement constrains growth at LAX and helps jump-start the regional plan. Working together, El Segundo, its allies and LAX have fashioned a lasting contract that protects El Segundo's rights, mandates needed change and sets a new course for the airport, its neighbors and the region."

Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt F. Dorn said, “The parties of this suit have worked diligently to reach an Agreement in Principle. If the Federal Aviation Administration approves the Agreement, I will be pleased to present it to the Inglewood City Council for their approval. I want to personally thank Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and LAWA Executive Director Lydia Kennard for the leadership they exhibited in reaching out to all of the parties to the Agreement.”

ARSAC President Jennifer Dakoske Koslu said, “ARSAC is proud to have played a key role in the successful settlement of the LAX Master Plan lawsuits. Subject to review by the FAA, a tentative resolution has been reached that will lead to elimination of the Manchester Square check-in facility, hasten the demise of yellow-light projects and begin overdue restoration of the El Segundo Dunes. Most important, the Agreement constrains capacity at LAX, and sets the stage for a regional plan to tackle the problem of Southern California's air commerce over-reliance on LAX. After a decade of civic activism for a regional solution, this settlement agreement validates ARSAC's core mission."

Among key provisions of the settlement, LAWA will:

  • Discontinue passenger operations at ten narrow body gates at the rate of two gates per year starting in 2010. This requirement will be in effect until 2020 unless LAX is serving less than 75 million annual passengers or if, through amendments to the Master Plan, LAX has 153 gates or less.


  • Create a prompt, community-based planning process to revisit and potentially replace controversial "yellow light" projects, such as the Manchester Square Ground Transportation Center, with alternative projects that increase airport efficiency and mitigate traffic, noise and pollution.


  • Invite the FAA, the Southern California Association of Governments, Southern California counties and airport operators to participate in a working group to plan for regional distribution of air traffic demand.


  • Develop a regional strategic planning initiative to encourage passenger and cargo activity at LAWA’s other airports.


  • Join a working group with ARSAC and Los Angeles City Council District 11 to seek input from interested parties on how LAWA can address the concerns of airport neighbors.


  • Provide funding to Inglewood, Los Angeles County, El Segundo and ARSAC totaling $266 million over a 10-year period to include: (1) accelerated noise mitigation for Inglewood, Los Angeles County and El Segundo; (2) job training and increased job opportunities; (3) traffic mitigation for Inglewood and El Segundo; (4) street removal and landscaping in the dunes west of Pershing Avenue; and (5) Westchester street lighting. An additional commitment of $60 million will be spent by LAWA on various air quality and environmental justice programs. Under no circumstances will any of LAWA’s obligations under the settlement require any expenditure from the City’s general fund or any other City-controlled source of funds.

    Negotiators for the parties to the settlement have requested postponement of a Friday (December 2) scheduled hearing in Riverside Superior Court on the state lawsuits until late January. In the federal lawsuits at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the parties will ask the FAA to support a stay to January 13 in order to prepare briefs. These postponements will allow time for ratification of the settlement.

    The parties pledged to work together to seek FAA review of the settlement and a statement of non-objection to the passenger gates provision in the settlement that the parties believe complies with federal law.

    The parties also agreed to obtain dismissal of two additional lawsuits filed by the Federation of Hillside and Canyon Associations, and the Coalition Against the Pipeline that were consolidated in the litigation in Riverside Superior Court.

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