Publication Date: Wednesday May 26, 1999

AIRPORT NOISE: Cities appeal to SFO to cut overflight noise

Palo Alto is banding together with six other Peninsula communities to demand that San Francisco International Airport do something to reduce noise from commercial aircraft flying over the area.

By making a joint appeal, the cities are rejecting the airport's established forum for dealing with noise complaints, known as the Airport/Community Roundtable.

"I think you have to make some noise to get a reduction in noise," Assemblyman Ted Lempert, D-Palo Alto, said at a news briefing Friday at Palo Alto's Civic Center Plaza, where representatives from the seven cities made the appeal.

Many Peninsula residents believe noise from aircraft headed for landings at SFO has increased in recent years and have pressured government leaders to do something about it.

"The one issue that unites the members of my district is airport noise," said Lempert, adding that he believes the aircraft noise problem has "worsened significantly" in recent years.

Palo Alto Mayor Gary Fazzino estimates that aircraft noise complaints, almost nonexistent five years ago, now number in the hundreds. However, he had little hard data on noise levels, saying the problem is a "perception" issue.

Local frustration over noise has led to the formation of UPROAR, a group of some 250 Peninsula residents which lobbies the airport and others on aircraft noise issues. Elizabeth Boudart, a Palo Alto resident and member of the group, says early morning jet noise regularly wakens her and that her complaints to the Federal Aviation Administration have been to no avail.

For its part, the airport contends that noise levels have not deteriorated over recent years, even as the number of flights has increased.

The airport's Roundtable group, which includes pilots and representatives from the FAA as well as from local cities, is charged with resolving residents' noise concerns. Membership in the group is limited to cities in San Mateo County, which the airport believes are most affected by flight operations, said airport spokesman Ron Wilson. Critics say that policy has left cities like Palo Alto and Los Altos without a say in noise matters.

"We have not been having tremendous success having the airport address this issue here on the Peninsula," Fazzino said during the news briefing, which was occasionally punctuated by the roar of jets flying overhead. As a result, Palo Alto mobilized the mayors of Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Woodside, Los Altos and Redwood City to help it appeal directly to the airport.

"We are going to have to take more aggressive actions to protect the quality of life in the area," Fazzino said. When asked if the group was making the appeal publicly in order to get the airport's attention, he replied, "Absolutely."

Underscoring the group's appeal to the airport is a feeling that noise complaints from Midpeninsula cities are not taken as seriously as those from communities adjacent to SFO, which bear the brunt of noise from takeoffs and airport operations.

"We know and want the airport to recognize that we have a unique noise problem," said Palo Alto City Councilwoman Dena Mossar.

SFO officials say Palo Alto representatives are welcome to air their complaints at the Roundtable, albeit on an advisory basis.

Mossar scoffed at the idea, saying the joint appeal had been made precisely because the Roundtable was not working. Southern San Mateo County cities like Menlo Park and Portola Valley have joined in the new appeal to the airport, even though they are voting members of the Roundtable.

"It is not an effective forum to deal with the noise issue," Mossar said of the Roundtable.

Some speakers at the briefing felt area noise complaints could be resolved by simply requiring jets flying into SFO to remain at higher altitudes over Peninsula cities before descending. "We're focusing primarily on the level that they're flying over Midpeninsula communities, which is different than 10 years ago," said Fazzino.

However, requiring planes to fly higher over the Peninsula would require steeper descents into the airport, which could be uncomfortable for passengers or even dangerous, said SFO's Wilson. He added that the minimum altitude for commercial aircraft flying over Woodside already has been raised from 6,000 to 7,000 feet.

A representative of the airport was present at the news conference but did not make a statement.

The group of cities is asking the airport to hold local meetings on the Peninsula to hear community views and to reduce current noise levels, set new noise guidelines and establish penalties for carriers that violate established limits.

"It is essential that the airport work with all of the cities that are so impacted by (air) traffic," said Ira Ruskin, vice mayor of Redwood City.

Wilson said SFO "would be happy to participate in meetings if it is beneficial to the (cities)." He added, however, that the group's proposal for penalties for noise violators probably wouldn't fly under federal rules.

Wilson touted the airport's proposed runway expansion, which would add a new runway located farther north in the bay, as "the real solution" to the noise problem. The expansion would reduce noise over the Peninsula, he said, by allowing aircraft to fly longer over the bay before landing. 

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