December 18, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

City of Santa Monica Awards Contract to Conduct Airport Air Quality Study

The City of Santa Monica has awarded Tufts University a contract to conduct an air quality study at the Santa Monica Airport (SMO) during a unique window of opportunity created by the upcoming runway shortening construction closure.  Tufts University was selected through a competitive bid process.

Earlier this month, the City released a Request for Proposals for an airport air quality study to be conducted around the airport runway shortening project timeline. The purpose of this study is to update the air quality study conducted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) in 2010 and 2011, establishing a baseline immediately before the runway shortening project begins, during the full airport closure, and after the project is completed once airport operations resume. The temporary full closure of the Airport during the runway shortening construction facilitates the City’s efforts to conduct monitoring when there will be no runway operations.

“In response to calls from the Airport Commission and those concerned with the health and safety impacts on surrounding neighborhoods, the City of Santa Monica is commissioning an independent academic study of pollution levels emanating from Santa Monica Airport, coinciding with the temporary runway shortening construction closure,” said City Manager Rick Cole.  “This is a rare opportunity to assess the air quality impacts of aviation uses before, during and after the runway shortening project.”

The runway shortening project is a result of decades of work by the City to mitigate impacts of airport operations on local communities. Over the last century, SMO has grown from a dirt airstrip designed for biplanes to a busy general aviation airport with more than 80,000 landings and take-offs last year.

For the past three decades, the City has sought to rein in the increasingly severe noise, health and safety impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. After protracted litigation, the City of Santa Monica and the Federal government entered into a landmark Consent Decree to authorize the permanent closure of SMO at the end of 2028.  The Consent Decree also authorized the City to shorten the SMO runway from approximately 5,000 feet to an operational runway length of 3,500 feet, which is expected to significantly curb large turbine aircraft operations.  Runway shortening construction is scheduled to be complete in January 2018.

The runway shortening project consists of two phases:

  • Phase 1:  Began on October 23, 2017 and is ongoing until December 13, 2017. During Phase 1, work is being performed nightly from 9:00 pm to 7:00 amMonday through Friday.  SMO will be closed to all aircraft operations during the aforementioned hours.
  • Phase 2:  Work will begin on December 13, 2017 and conclude December 23, 2017. During Phase 2, work will be performed both during the day and during the night. SMO will be closed to all aircraft operations for 10 consecutive days, 24 hours per day.

After the closure, the new airport configuration will limit the fleet mix of turbine aircraft operations by frequency of take-offs and landings.  With this study, the City seeks to learn whether the change in the turbine aircraft fleet mix impacts the air quality surrounding the airport by comparing levels before and after the runway shortening against baseline data collected during the closure.

The contract awarded to Tufts University is for $54,342. The team will begin mobilizing their air quality monitoring effort on Monday, December 4, 2017.

For more information regarding this project and for regular updates regarding the runway shortening project, including more detailed construction information once it is available, please visit www.smgov.net/airport.

The 12 acres of tie-downs at Santa Monica Airport will eventually be turned into parks

<>Related Posts

Venice Beach’s Iconic “Declaration” Statue to Be Removed Within Months. There’s Still Time for a Patron to Save It

December 18, 2024

December 18, 2024

Declaration Is Now Months Away From Being Dismantled and Transferred to di Suvero’s Sculpture Park in Petaluma, CA. By Zach...

(Video) The Watermark at Beverly Hills Offers Boutique-Style Living for Seniors

December 17, 2024

December 17, 2024

For More Info, Go To Watermarkcommunities.com For More Info, Go To https://t.co/MYpWd0S4Gf pic.twitter.com/DvrpQInU5g — Santa Monica Mirror (@SMMirror) December 18,...

Best Christmas Dinners To Go and Very Special Christmas Treats for Your Holiday Celebration

December 17, 2024

December 17, 2024

Where to Order Some of the Most Delicious and Special Treats for Next Week Christmas is approaching soon and just...

AI-Powered Gym “Fred Fitness” to Debut in Santa Monica

December 17, 2024

December 17, 2024

Fred Fitness Is Part of a Broader Partnership With Clever Fit and Egym, Which Recently Secured $200 Million in Growth...

Red Flag Warning Issued for Malibu as Dangerous Fire Weather, Power Shutoffs Loom

December 17, 2024

December 17, 2024

Santa Ana Winds up to 60 MPH, Low Humidity, and Potential Power Outages Expected  A Red Flag Warning has been...

80 Firefighters Contain Brush Fire Near Murphy’s Ranch in Palisades

December 17, 2024

December 17, 2024

The Operation, Which Lasted Two Hours, Was Made Difficult with Rugged Terrain A small brush fire near Murphy’s Ranch in...

(Video) The Willows: 30 Years Going Strong

December 16, 2024

December 16, 2024

Founded in 1994, The Willows Community School, located in Culver City, California, is a Developmental Kindergarten through 8th grade non-profit, co-educational independent school...

Micro-Amusement Park “Two Bit Circus” Opens Pop-Up on The Promenade

December 16, 2024

December 16, 2024

Guests Can Enjoy Unlimited Gameplay for a $25 Admission Fee, With Highlights Including a VR-Enhanced “Cocktail Shooter” Game Two Bit...

Los Angeles County Launches Program to Cancel $500 Million in Medical Debt

December 16, 2024

December 16, 2024

Initiative Targets Low-Income Residents with $2 Billion Debt Relief Goal The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has launched...

Santa Monica College Seeks Applicants for Vacant Trustee Position

December 16, 2024

December 16, 2024

The Appointed Individual Will Serve Until the Next Board Election in November 2026 The Santa Monica College Board of Trustees...

Jeffrey Stanton, Leading Venice Beach Historian Who Authored “Coney Island of the Pacific”, Passes Away at 79

December 16, 2024

December 16, 2024

The City of Los Angeles Honored Him Earlier This Year With the Inaugural “Venice Preservationist Award” By Zach Armstrong Jeffrey...

Six-Bed Estate on Sunset Boulevard Hits Market at $5.8M

December 16, 2024

December 16, 2024

Amenities Include a Home Theater, a Gym, and a Sauna on the Lower Level A contemporary estate boasting six bedrooms...

(Video) Discover Seaside Fun With Pacific Park’s Amusement Rides and Games

December 15, 2024

December 15, 2024

For Tickets and More Info, Go To Pacpark.com For Tickets and More Info, Go To https://t.co/PUWlOc89JQ pic.twitter.com/Q5PlzqwQyM — Santa Monica...

Breaking News: Malibu Schools to Reopen After Franklin Fire, with Support for Families and Students

December 15, 2024

December 15, 2024

Malibu Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Will Reopen Monday Gail Pinsker, Community & Public Relations Officer of the Santa Monica...

Breaking News: Franklin Fire Containment at 42% as Malibu Shares Recovery Updates

December 15, 2024

December 15, 2024

Malibu Residents Return Home as Damage Assessments Near Completion The City of Malibu has released updates on the Franklin Fire...