Transactions Newsletter

Extend runways into the Bay? Open military airfields up to commercial use? Restrict private plane access to commercial airport facilities? These are some of the options for increasing regional commercial airport capacity that MTC is reviewing in conjunction with the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments.

The three agencies sponsor the Regional Airport Planning Committee, which is overhauling the Regional Airport System Plan. The analysis is being driven by rising passenger and cargo demand at the region's three primary airports. On the table are several alternatives for reconfiguring and lengthening the runways at the San Francisco International Airport to increase runway separation (to allow simultaneous landings during low visibility), as well as to address a persistent noise problem and accommodate the new generation of extra-large aircraft. The alternatives would involve varying amounts of Bay fill.

The regional study is also evaluating new runways at Oakland and San Jose international airports.

"We're looking at the three airports as a system," said MTC Planning Manager Chris Brittle. "The question is, how can we best use the three facilities to handle projected increases in air travel?"

In addition to considering runway expansion at existing airports, the panel will examine the potential for directing some short-hop commercial, air cargo and corporate air traffic to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Solano County, or to Moffett Federal Airfield in the South Bay. Allowing short-haul commercial flights out of some of the region's general aviation (private) airports is another option being considered.

Before it completes this phase of its work in early 2000, the panel also will weigh: the ability of new air traffic control equipment and procedures to accommodate more planes on existing runways; the feasibility of imposing variable landing fees to ration scarce runway space; and the potential for a statewide high-speed rail line to handle a portion of the projected travel demand.

BCDC will use the panel's findings in evaluating whether to approve Bay fill for new runways.

-- Brenda Kahn

Contents

• Cover Story
• Front Page
• MTC Cultivates Community Improvements
• Complete list and descriptions of TLC projects
• Helping the Bay Area Grow Wisely

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