Regional Airports Will Improve LAX Safety

Re “No. 1 in Airfield Close Calls, LAX Finds Solutions Elusive,� June 24: Faced with justifiable opposition by citizens groups to their efforts to expand LAX, the Airport Commission is now quick to jump on the Federal Aviation Administration airfield close-call report to again promote plans for the ill-advised LAX expansion. Will adding more runways/taxiways, more flights and 20 million more passengers to LAX be the best cure? A more reasonable solution is to reduce LAX air traffic, which, combined with the planned ground radar installation, should further improve LAX’s performance (no level A and B, close-at-hand runway incursions this year).

The regional airport growth alternative will be safer and more convenient for all Angelenos and will balance air traffic demands and congestion. And, with a regional airport growth plan, L.A. can avoid gridlock on crowded Westside, mid-city and South Bay surface streets and the already overwhelmed San Diego Freeway, as well as reduce risk of a tragic accident on LAX’s runways by limiting increases in air traffic.

Linda Reid

Long Beach

I have no quarrel with improving safety at LAX; in fact, I think it should be addressed with utmost vigor. However, I have lived in Westchester for over 35 years and have lost track of the number of broken promises concerning LAX.

I fear that the plan to upgrade safety is another subterfuge to justify cramming ever more traffic into this already overcrowded facility instead of developing the Palmdale property, which would make a lot more sense.

Thomas F. Brands

Westchester