Features

Oakland airport expansion moves one step forward

The Associated Press
Saturday October 05, 2002

OAKLAND — After almost a one-year hiatus, a $1.4 billion plan to expand the Oakland International Airport is getting back on track with an agreement to be signed Tuesday by community groups, city officials and the Port of Oakland. 

The agreement means the port can continue working on a master plan for the airport expansion. 

Concerned about noise and the environment last November Alameda officials and neighborhood activists filed a suit that stopped the project. 

In that action, the state Supreme Court required the Port of Oakland to conduct new environmental impact reports of noise, toxic pollution and the impact of the project on a rare burrowing owl. 

The environmental impact report still needs to be approved, said assistant city manager for Alameda, Rob Wonder. But he added that the city has decided to drop some legal objections to the project. 

The project, scheduled to be completed by 2008, will include a new main terminal, a 6,000-space parking garage, 12 new gates and expanded cargo facilities.