A temporary restraining order that had Santa Monica Airport supporters jumping for joy last week turned out to be short lived. The City of Santa Monica plans to start the process of shortening runway 3-21 on October 23 after Senior U.S. District Judge Ronald S. Lew denied a preliminary injunction and dissolved a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the process of reducing the runway length from nearly 5,000 to 3,500 feet.
Santa Monica’s Runway Shortening to Proceed
Key Takeaways:
- The City of Santa Monica will proceed with shortening runway 3-21 from nearly 5,000 to 3,500 feet, beginning October 23, after a judge denied an injunction and dissolved a temporary restraining order.
- The runway shortening project will occur in two phases, starting with nightly airport closures, followed by a complete 10-day shutdown after which the runway will be permanently reduced.
- Aviation organizations and local businesses oppose the runway reduction, citing negative impacts, and are continuing legal efforts to maintain airport access and challenge the city's agreement with the FAA.
See a mistake? Contact us.
