Judge Says City Can Proceed With The Runway Shortening

The City of Santa Monica may proceed with shortening the runway at Santa Monica Airport (KSMO) after a temporary restraining order halting the work was lifted by U.S. District Judge Ronald Lew, who had put it in place.

The Santa Monica Patch reports that Airport Director Stelios Makrides said that the city is pleased with the court's decision, "which allows it to fulfill its commitment to the community and the FAA. The city will renew work on the runway-shortening project, which it expects to commence within the next week, and will continue to update you on matters relating to that project."

The court had put the TRO in place at the request of Santa Monica residents Kate Scott and James Babinski, a pilot. They said that the city had failed to meet public hearing requirements when it made the decision to shorten the runway as part of an overall agreement with the FAA to close the airport entirely by the end of 2028. They also said that shortening the runway would make the airport less safe. Judge Lew said that Scott and Babinski would "likely prevail at trial on the merits of their claim."  He also noted that the city had not filed opposition to the TRO.

Shortly after the order was imposed, the city filed 1,400 pages of documents supporting its case, and requested an expedited review. The city said that the Brown act concerning public hearings did not apply to the runway shortening because it did not require action to be taken. The city said it followed all applicable laws in its decision to shorten the runway. Judge Lew agreed, saying that since the runway shortening project does not involve land acquisition, no public hearing was required. The court also disagreed that safety would be jeopardized after reviewing city and FAA documents.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Reports Patch