Underpass at Burbank Airport

The controversy over the airplane takeoff patterns at Burbank Airport and the possibility of “sharing” the noise might be alleviated if there were an underpass on Vineland and the railroad tracks at the west end of the east-west runway.

An underpass under both the railroad and the runway could add as much as 1,000 feet to the takeoff run and allow airplanes to be much higher when they cross Hollywood Way. This would not necessarily lengthen the allowable landing roll from the west because the west end of the runway might be too close to the railroad tracks for landing but not for takeoff.

There is restricted visibility going south on Vineland just before crossing the tracks. This can be dangerous because of delivery vehicles’ being stopped in all manner of attitudes between the tracks and Vanowen and because drivers tend to speed up between Sherman Way and the tracks. An underpass would eliminate these problems in addition to the congestion at the railroad crossing when trains are passing.

CARLYLE SMITH

Sun Valley