Ruth Haines
The Santa Monica Airport, located in California, US, is a general aviation airport that first opened in 1923. In 2017, the Santa Monica City Council approved a plan to shorten the airport's runway from 4,973 feet to 3,500 feet, with the aim of reducing jet traffic and addressing noise and pollution concerns. The runway shortening was completed in December 2017, and the airport reopened with the shortened runway. The project also aimed to enhance safety areas at the ends of the runway and provide more adequate safety buffers. The decision to shorten the runway was not without controversy, as some argued that it would negatively impact businesses and residents in the area. Despite legal challenges, the city moved forward with the shortening of the runway, with the ultimate goal of closing the airport by the end of 2028 and redeveloping the land for other purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Runway Length Before Shortening | 4,973 feet |
| Runway Length After Shortening | 3,500 feet |
| Cost of Runway Shortening | $3,517,320 |
| Contractor | AECOM |
| Construction Start Date | October 2021 |
| Construction Completion Date | December 23, 2017 |
| Airport Closure Date | December 31, 2028 |
| Airport Location | Santa Monica, California, United States |
| Airport Type | General Aviation Airport |
| Runway Number | 3-21 |
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What You'll Learn
- Santa Monica Airport's runway shortening completed on December 23, 2017
- The shortening reduced the runway length from 4,973 feet to 3,500 feet
- The shortening will reduce jet traffic and bring relief to residents through reduced noise and pollution
- The project cost $3.5 million and was contracted to AECOM
- The airport is set to close at the end of 2028
Santa Monica Airport's runway shortening completed on December 23, 2017
The Santa Monica City Council approved a contract to shorten the runway at Santa Monica Airport on August 8, 2017, with construction set to begin in October of that year. The project aimed to reduce jet traffic and bring relief to nearby residents through decreased noise and pollution.
The shortening of the runway was part of the Consent Decree between the City of Santa Monica and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which gives the city the authority to close the airport after 2028 and to shorten the runway immediately.
The construction to shorten the runway began on October 23, 2017, with phase one of the project taking place at night between 9 pm and 7 am, Monday through Friday. The airport was then completely closed for a 10-day period starting on December 13, 2017, to facilitate the completion of the project.
The runway shortening was completed on time and within budget, and the airport reopened on December 23, 2017, with a 3,500-foot runway. This new length rendered the runway too short for most jet traffic, reducing jet operations and bringing the desired relief to the surrounding communities in terms of noise and pollution.
Despite the successful completion of the project, there were legal challenges and opposition to the runway shortening and the planned closure of the airport in 2028. Lawsuits and amicus briefs were filed, arguing that the city had overstepped its authority and failed to follow state law requirements. However, these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the shortening of the runway.
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The shortening reduced the runway length from 4,973 feet to 3,500 feet
The Santa Monica Airport, also known as Santa Monica Municipal Airport, is located in Santa Monica, California, in the Greater Los Angeles area. It is one of the oldest airports in the United States, having opened on April 15, 1923. Over the years, the airport has been the centre of numerous political battles, with local residents complaining about noise and safety concerns.
In 2017, the Santa Monica City Council approved a plan to shorten the airport's runway from 4,973 feet to 3,500 feet, with the goal of reducing jet traffic and bringing relief to neighbouring residents through decreased noise and pollution. The shortened runway would make the airport inaccessible to most jets, reducing overall air traffic. The project was contracted to AECOM for a maximum price of $3.5 million, with construction beginning in October 2017 and completion by the end of that year.
The runway shortening process involved two phases. Phase 1 included night work and partial closures, with the airport closed from 9 pm to 7 am, Monday through Friday. Phase 2 involved a complete shutdown of the airport for approximately 7 to 10 consecutive days. The shortening of the runway was completed on December 23, 2017, and the airport reopened with the new, shorter runway.
The decision to shorten the runway was not without controversy. Some argued that it would negatively impact area residents, businesses, and general aviation. Lawsuits and amicus briefs were filed, challenging the shortening of the runway and the planned closure of the airport in 2028. Despite the opposition, the city of Santa Monica moved forward with the project, prioritising the health and wellbeing of residents by reducing jet operations and enhancing safety areas at the ends of the runway.
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The shortening will reduce jet traffic and bring relief to residents through reduced noise and pollution
The Santa Monica Airport, located in California, is one of the oldest airports in the United States. In 2017, the Santa Monica City Council approved a plan to shorten the airport's runway from 4,973 feet to 3,500 feet, with the aim of reducing jet traffic and bringing relief to residents through decreased noise and pollution.
The shortening of the runway will make it inaccessible to larger jets, reducing the overall number of jets using the airport. This will have a significant impact on the surrounding community, who have historically complained about noise and pollution from the airport. The city government had previously imposed a noise limit of 100 decibels on departing aircraft, but the runway shortening is expected to provide further relief to residents.
The project, which cost $3.5 million, was completed in December 2017, ahead of the original deadline of the end of 2017. The construction was initially done at night to limit disruptions to aviation operations, and noise was monitored and mitigated throughout. During Phase 1 of the project, the airport was closed on weekdays from 9 pm to 7 am, and during Phase 2, the airport was completely shut down for approximately 10 consecutive days.
While the shortening of the runway will bring relief to residents in terms of noise and pollution, there are concerns about the negative impact on businesses and aircraft operators who rely on the airport. Despite these concerns, the city of Santa Monica is working towards closing the airport by 2028, and the runway shortening is a step towards that goal. The reclaimed land from the runway shortening will be redeveloped for community use, with potential plans for parks, open spaces, recreation, education, and cultural activities.
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The project cost $3.5 million and was contracted to AECOM
The Santa Monica City Council approved a Guaranteed Maximum Price of $3.5 million to shorten the runway at Santa Monica Airport. The project was contracted to AECOM, with the aim of reducing jet traffic and bringing relief to residents through decreased noise and pollution. The plan was to shorten the runway from 4,973 feet to 3,500 feet, rendering it too short for most jets.
The decision to shorten the runway was not without controversy, as some believed it would negatively impact area residents, businesses, and general aviation. However, the city of Santa Monica was determined to shut out business jets from the airport as soon as possible and planned to have the airport completely closed by 2028.
AECOM, as the contracted company, was responsible for designing and overseeing the runway shortening project. The construction was set to begin in October 2021, with completion initially targeted for the end of that year. The work was to be done primarily at night to limit disruptions to aviation operations, and noise monitoring was to be conducted throughout the project.
The runway shortening was ultimately completed on December 23, 2017, resulting in a reduction of jet aircraft operations and improved safety areas at the ends of the runway. The shortened runway now provides more adequate safety buffers and prevents aircraft from rolling past the runway and into nearby residential areas.
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The airport is set to close at the end of 2028
The Santa Monica Airport (SMO) is scheduled to close at the end of 2028. The airport, which is located about two miles from the Pacific Ocean and six miles north of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), has a long history dating back to its opening in 1923. Over the years, it has been the site of various aviation achievements, including the manufacturing of several Douglas Commercial "DC" series airliners.
However, the airport has also been at the centre of numerous political battles seeking to limit or close it due to noise and safety concerns. In 1968, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contracted with the City of Santa Monica to ensure the airport land would be used for aviation services until 1988. In more recent years, residents living near the airport have complained about noise and safety issues, leading to the imposition of a noise limit of 100 decibels on departing aircraft.
In 2017, the city decided to shorten the runway from 4,973 feet to 3,500 feet, which was completed in December of that year. The shortened runway reduces jet traffic and provides more adequate safety areas at the ends of the runway, addressing the concerns of neighbouring residents. The project cost $3.5 million and was funded by taxpayer money.
Despite the ongoing lawsuits and amicus briefs that could potentially prevent the closure, the city is working towards shutting out business jets and ultimately closing the airport by the end of 2028. The reclaimed land from the closure will be redeveloped into areas for parks, open spaces, recreation, education, and cultural use.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the runway shortening was completed on December 23, 2017.
The city decided to shorten the runway from 4,973 feet to 3,500 feet to reduce jet traffic, bringing immediate relief to neighbouring residents through reduced noise and air pollution.
The city of Santa Monica spent $3.5 million of taxpayer money on the project.
