L.A. approves major overhaul for LAX

Los Angeles International Airport has approved a modernization plan anticipated to total almost $5 billion. The safety-enhancement and controversial modernization plan was sanctioned on Tuesday by the City Council.

The meeting split council members and met emotional opposition from neighbourhood groups that were concerned about increased pollution and noise. Nevertheless, the vote gave the go-ahead to LAX to expand and revamp their out of date and often cramped facilities.

Long-term financing and airport revenue will foot the bill for the changes and upgrades. Still subject to potential court challenges and environmental studies, the plan is to fulfill the Federal Aviation Administration's frequent demands to reposition the northernmost runway to enhance safety. A significant goal is to make space for a taxiway between this runway and a landing strip running parallel. Running both runways' entire length, safety advocates assert that such a taxiway is necessary to stop pilots from accidently falling into the path of other planes while taking off or landing.

For several years, aviation regulators and experts have noted LAX as being a fundamental example of parallel runways posing collision hazards because they are situated too close together. Traffic congestion and poor visibility heighten these dangers.
The present version of this modernization bid was originally proposed over five years ago, in part to adapt to Airbus' A380 superjumbos and Boeing's largest 747 jumbo planes. Several business interests across the city have backed the initiative, including organizers and airport union members who are developing Los Angeles' bid for the summer Olympics in 2024.

Construction isn't anticipated for another five years, and improvement specifics could alter depending on exhaustive environmental reviews. Along with the runway relocation, other plans include an elevated "people mover", terminal additions and a facility for car rental.