Published Thursday, November 14, 2002, in the San Jose Mercury News
Mayor wants to speed up expansion at S.J. airport By Rodney Foo Mercury News Mayor Ron Gonzales on Wednesday announced a proposal to begin expansion of Mineta San Jose International Airport years earlier than planned, a proposition that hinges on voters agreeing to ease requirements for current airport traffic improvements. Gonzales' plan, which he hopes to put before voters on a March ballot, is driven by the airport's need to hasten mandated federal security improvements. Expansion work could begin as soon as next year, with a new concourse completed in 2005. Improvements could be finished in 2008. Gonzales' proposal was assailed by an airport traffic coalition that reached an agreement on a city ordinance -- the Airport Traffic Relief Act -- with city officials three years ago to synchronize the airport's expansion with traffic improvements. Former Councilman David Pandori, a member of the Airport Traffic Relief Alliance, said the mayor's proposal breaches provisions in the ordinance, such as starting construction on an automated people mover that links with the light-rail system before undertaking airport expansion. "It's a complete flip-flop on the mayor's part," Pandori said. "We're extremely disappointed. They've really broken their trust and work with the people involved and with our group." But Gonzales said he hasn't broken promises because he's adhering to the agreement by putting the issue on the ballot. The ordinance, passed by the council in December 1999, is worded in such a way that any changes to the Airport Traffic Relief Act must be approved by voters. If passed, the changes would save about $125 million in construction costs while meeting post-Sept. 11 security improvements, he said. "This is a common-sense plan that makes our airport safer, easier to use and saves money," said Gonzales, adding that no tax money would be required for the expansion. Starting construction soon would permit officials to build a much- needed facility for new bomb-detection machines, he said. The proposal also addresses the airport's master plan for expansion, which includes a new 40-gate terminal and concourse. Alternatives call for building a temporary facility for the machines that would be torn down once the airport expansion is under way. The nation's airports are under a Dec. 31 deadline to get the technology in place to inspect all baggage for explosives. San Jose has two explosives-detection machines but will need more to expedite inspections, or passengers will face delays. The plan significantly accelerates the airport's expansion, which had been tied to the completion of various transportation projects -- including an automated people mover that would connect to light-rail lines on North First Street. However, while street improvements have progressed, the timing of construction on the $110 million people mover has not been finalized because the city has not been able to find a way to finance it until much later this decade. The mayor's proposal drew support from the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, a longtime proponent for airport expansion, and the airlines, which, along with other airport users, will foot the estimated $1.3 billion expansion bill. "Regardless of the costs at this point, we have to move forward . . . for our customers," said Franco Tedeschi, local director for American Airlines. "We want to be well-positioned for our recovery in the economy, and we do believe San Jose is a key location for us to do business in the long term." The basis for the mayor's announcement dates back to Measure O, a failed ballot proposal that appeared on the spring 2000 ballot and promised to solve expected traffic congestion generated by a bigger airport. The measure would have barred airport construction of new gates and a terminal until major traffic improvements were within a year of completion. The improvements included the expansion of Highway 87 between Julian Street and Highway 101, the addition of a new southbound lane on the Interstate 880/Coleman Avenue interchange, upgrading intersections leading into the airport, and construction of a light-rail line that would run to the airport. But the city reached a compromise with the group behind that measure, the Airport Traffic Relief Alliance, by agreeing to all the traffic improvements except two: A people mover that would link the airport to a light-rail station on North First Street was substituted for a direct light-rail link, and expansion could start within two years of the transportation projects being completed. The city council will decide at its Nov. 26 meeting whether to put the proposal on a March 4 ballot. Because it would be a special election for a single measure, Gonzales would need 10 votes from the 11-member council to put the proposal before voters. An election would cost $1.7 million to stage, and city officials on Wednesday said they were looking into ways to finance that. Contact Rodney Foo at (408) 975-9346
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