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REMARKS FOR
THE HONORABLE NORMAN Y. MINETA
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
LAX GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT
LOS ANGELES, CA
FEBRUARY 2, 2006
10:00 AM
Good morning. It is great to be back in my home state of
California.
A special thanks to Lydia Kennard for doing a great job as Executive Director of
the Los Angeles World Airports and for showing us today the exciting plans in
action for the future of Los Angeles International.
More so than any other airport, LAX is a symbol of life on the West Coast. But,
we know that life brings changes, and that is true at this airport, where
everyone has been working hard the last few years to keep pace with today’s
aviation challenges.
I have spent the morning learning about some of those solutions – hearing your
plans to ensure runway efficiency and safety by moving runway 7R/25L and
protecting the quality of life of nearby communities by cutting down noise for
those who live along the flight path.
This is important work, and that is why I am here today to announce $56.5
million to help pay for the relocation of the runway and work to sound proof
neighborhood homes.
Of that, $29.5 million will help pay for relocating the runway further to the
south. This is the second installment of federal funding, bringing the total to
$68.3 million so far.
Relocating the runway will make room for a new taxiway that will cut congestion
on the ground – and in the airspace above – by preventing tie ups, so travelers
won’t be delayed and neighbors won’t be inconvenienced.
Fixing the runway will make this a safer airport. There are too many reports of
aircraft coming too close together as they make their way to the runway or to
the terminal. These incursions, as they are known in the aviation world, will be
all but eliminated with these improvements. And that gives us all reason to be
more confident in the safety of flights in and out of Los Angeles.
The other $27 million dollars will help sound proof more than 500 homes in
Lennox, El Segundo, and Inglewood. The money pays for double-paned windows,
solid doors, and better attic insulation – all of it intended to give families a
break from jet noise.
More than 2,400 homes have either been sound proofed or have work under way,
thanks to the over $106 million that we have now provided since 1998. About
8,000 homes will be modified when this work is completed.
Today, we see real progress in making this airport safer, more efficient, and a
better neighbor. This has been a long, difficult process. But as a former mayor,
I know it is an important one.
Everyone deserves to have a voice and needs to be heard, so that we can move
forward knowing that we are working toward the same goal.
This is a tough road, and it is a necessary part of doing business in the public
arena – but you did it. As a result, the work occurring here is work that we can
all support.
Congratulations on achieving a major milestone in this project. Congratulations
on the latest round of grant money to help pay the bill.
And, congratulations on the work that you are doing to make sure LAX remains
central to life in California. Thank you.
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