November 22, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

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.

Related Posts

Breakaway Café Opens New Venice Location with Beachside Grab-and-Go Window

November 20, 2024

November 20, 2024

Bayse Brothers Bring Their Signature Breakfast Dishes and Good Vibes to Venice Breakaway Café, a popular breakfast and lunch eatery...

Last Minute Additions to the Best Thanksgiving 2024 Feasts and Pies To Go

November 20, 2024

November 20, 2024

If Other Faves are Sold Out, Here’s All The Quality Places to Try Now Celebrity chefs Susan Feniger and Mary...

Everytable’s Holiday Meal Collaboration To Support LA’s Unhoused Youth

November 20, 2024

November 20, 2024

Chef Created Thanksgiving Meal Benefits My Friend’s Place. Everytable, the mission-driven company committed to making scratch-cooked, nutritious meals accessible to...

Los Angeles City Council Codifies Sanctuary Protections for Migrants with New Citywide Ordinance

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Mayor Bass Prioritized the Ordinance after Trump’s Mass Deportation Threats The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to officially...

The Palms Community Council’s Executive Committee Schedules Special Meeting for Nov. 20

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Meeting to Address Open Board Positions and Committee Updates The Executive Committee will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, Nov....

Hammer Museum Presents 10th Edition of MoMA Contenders: Screenings, Conversations with Top Filmmakers

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Lineup Features Films by Steve McQueen, Sean Baker, and Brady Corbett The Hammer Museum will host the 10th edition of...

Film Review: Wicked

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

By Dolores Quintana Director John Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In The Heights) has crafted an effervescent take on the blockbuster...

Randy’s Donuts Arrives in Culver City with Free Donuts and a $250 Gift Card Giveaway

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Grand Opening on November 19 Includes Sweet Giveaways Starting at 6:00 a.m. The time is finally here. Randy’s Donuts is...

Nicole Nagel’s Futuristic Eric Moss Designed Brentwood Home To Hit Auction Block

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

The Spaceship-Like Property Heads to Auction With No Reserve in December German actress Nicole Nagel, who was part of the...

LA Controller Kenneth Meija: City Left $513 Million of Homelessness Budget Unspent

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

Inefficiencies Blamed for Underspending Despite Record Allocation in FY2024  The City of Los Angeles hasn’t spent over half of its...

West LA College Expands Zero-Cost Textbook Programs with $600K Grant

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

College Aims for 50 Zero-Cost Textbook Programs by 2025  West Los Angeles College (West) is expanding its zero-cost textbook program...

(Video) At Vistamar School – Discover the way high school should be

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

Students achieve remarkable outcomes with our strong academics, small classes, andpersonalized approach. Our graduates don’t just attend college—they excel. Vistamar’sunique...

(Video) Celebrating 60 Years of Excellence in Education

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

Join our international community! Preschool through 12th grade, private school in West Los Angeles and Pacific Palisades, No French knowledge required...

Missing Person Alert: Authorities Seek Help to Find Michelle Lerner, 63, in Culver City

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

Woman Was Last Seen Near Prospect Avenue and Venice Boulevard  Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a...

Lodge Bread To Open New Beverly Hills Location on November 22

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

Popular Bakery Will Offer Its Signature Sourdoughs and Pastries  Lodge Bread, a highly regarded West Los Angeles bakery and café,...