OC Blog

Arnold Announces Completion of Freeway Expansion Project

This came over a few days ago from the Governor's Office:

GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER ANNOUNCES EXPANSION COMPLETED AT ONE OF THE NATION'S BUSIEST FREEWAY INTERCHANGES

Easing traffic congestion at one of the nation's busiest freeway interchanges, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the completion of a $28 million project at the Ventura Freeway (U.S. 101)/ San Diego Freeway (I-405) interchange in Los Angeles.

JWA's Full Slate - OC Insider

Air travel in Southern California has finally surpassed pre-9/11 levels. The region handled 61 million travelers for the first eight months, up 2.5% from last year and breaking the record set in 2001. Yet LAX handled 3.5 million fewer passengers through August than it did in 2001—Long Beach, John Wayne, Ontario, Burbank and Palm Springs accounted for the gains. More . . .

Costa Mesa moves ahead with JWA area high-rises

Thursday, the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) of Orange County found a 23 story high-rise residential tower in Costa Mesa to be inconsistent with the Airport Environs Land Use Plan for John Wayne. It is anticipated that the Costa Mesa City Council will override the ALUC finding, as it has done previously, and allow the project to be built.

The FAA and airport manager expressed no opposition but several commissioner voiced concern with the number and height of high-rise towers encroaching on JWA airspace. More . . .

John Wayne airport traffic sets a record

John Wayne passenger traffic in August hit 946,426, a new monthly record.

In a series of reports, the El Toro Info Site analyzes the significance in terms of the airport’s $652 million capital improvement program, caps on the airport’s utilization adopted by the county in 2003 that will remain in place until 2015, and why airport management may have to withdraw some air carrier’s authorization to provide service in order to stay under the caps.

Ontario - Official airport of Disneyland

A plan that lays out Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's campaign promise to divert air traffic from Los Angeles International Airport will be unveiled in piecemeal fashion beginning in late 2008.

The El Toro Info site reports tentative plans call for building a high-speed rail line between Ontario airport and Anaheim.

"We want Ontario to be the official airport for Disneyland while also helping the rest of Southern California meet its transportation needs," Ontario Mayor Paul Leon said.

Regional airport board stalled

The LA Times reports when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa scaled back an $11-billion plan for modernizing Los Angeles International Airport he promised neighborhoods near LAX that he would embrace a different aviation strategy: sending air traffic to other airports across the region.

But the Southern California Regional Airport Authority [SCRAA], created to do the job, is once again having trouble getting off the ground.

Orange County officials want a "pledge of non-interference" guaranteeing that the authority won't try to increase the number of flights out of John Wayne Airport. The county also wants a guarantee that the authority won't lobby the federal government to secure increases in air travel out of Orange County. More . . .

Torrance Democrat asks FAA to shift flights to OC

The El Toro Info Site reports that Torrance Democrat Ted Lieu, whose district includes LAX, has written FAA Administrator Marion Blakey saying "The FAA needs to order the airlines to shift flights out of LAX to the other airports in Los Angeles and Orange County. It's long past time for there to be a true regional airport system."

Lieu follows the path of his predecessor in the district who sought to relocate air traffic from LAX to Orange County by legislation in Sacramento.

Rationing seats at John Wayne

OCBJ Viewpoint

While the public’s attention was riveted on the heated political battle over El Toro a few years back, quieter actions were being taken to seal the future of the county’s existing airport.

Orange County businesses and travelers never got to vote on plans to ration seats at John Wayne Airport.

Rosendahl calls for LAX congestion pricing

The El Toro Info Site reports Los Angeles City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl this week called for a LAX congestion pricing feasibility study.

The congestion pricing plan would require motorists to pay a fee to enter into the airport area, charging a higher rate for vehicles registered outside of Los Angeles County.

Rosendahl's proposed tax may raise votes for him in his district and some money for L.A. but is unlikely to deter travelers going to and from Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties. They already pay a high premium in travel time and cost to use LAX which often is the only airport providing the flights they need.

Toll road directors want to study merger

Here is the link to the OCR story referenced by Jubal below.

A multibillion-dollar deal to combine the 73 and 241 is picking up steam with a vote possible by the end of the year.