BIGGER, BETTER AIRPORT IN A.V.? ALARCON PLAN WOULD CREATE REGIONAL AUTHORITY.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO - Amid a renewed city push to regionalize Los Angeles' airports, a San Fernando Valley lawmaker plans to introduce legislation this month that could lead to a new airport in northern Los Angeles County.

State Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys, said the measure would create a regional authority that would study the issue and have the power to authorize construction of a new airport or expand operations at Palmdale Regional Airport.

``The purpose is really to stimulate the debate about building more airport capacity,'' Alarcon said. ``The specifics of the legislation will include things like greatly expanding usage of Palmdale airport, creating jobs and reversing the commute. Or, if necessary and feasible, building a new airport.''

The renewed effort comes as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa recently settled a lawsuit with opponents of expansion at Los Angeles International Airport, agreeing to limit the number of annual LAX passengers and vowing to push for alternative sites.

A spokesman for Villaraigosa said last week that the mayor has not seen Alarcon's proposed bill but welcomes regionalization efforts.

``The mayor does applaud and wants to thank the senator for his effort in recognizing the need for regional aviation,'' said spokesman Darryl Ryan. ``At the same time, the mayor has also asked (Los Angeles World Airports director) Lydia Kennard to look at the suitability of expanding and airport regionalization from Ontario and Palmdale.''

Still, while expansion of Palmdale air service as an alternative to increasingly congested LAX has long been discussed, officials acknowledge numerous challenges.

The existing Palmdale Regional Airport terminal on the grounds of U.S. Air Force Plant 42 is capable of handling 300,000 passengers a year. Los Angeles World Airports has for years owned more than 17,000 acres of desert nearby that is available for development.

But major commercial airlines have resisted flying out of Palmdale, saying it is too far from Los Angeles to attract sufficient passengers.

Several commuter airlines operated at Palmdale in the 1990s, but all had pulled out by 1998, saying they were not making enough profit.

The Palmdale terminal reopened for commercial service in December 2004 when North Las Vegas-based Scenic Airlines - best known for Grand Canyon sightseeing flights - began a route to North Las Vegas' airport. But Scenic shut down its Palmdale flights after little more than a year, saying they drew too few passengers.

Alarcon said he is undeterred, believing passenger traffic could grow if the new commission also looks at building a light-rail link from the San Fernando Valley to Palmdale.

And if expansion at Palmdale doesn't work, Alarcon said he would like the commission to look at building an entirely new airport in the region.

Alarcon said he hopes to get funds for the expansion carved out of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed $222 billion infrastructure improvement program.

But Bob Rodine, co-chair of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association's aviation committee, said hurdles include transit access to Palmdale and studies that show frequent flyers tend to live closest to LAX.

``At this point in time, I haven't seen an objective analysis that says we ought to be doing it really soon,'' said Rodine, a management consultant who works with the aviation industry.

``I am absolutely certain there will come a time when it will make perfect sense. My objective side has had a little bit of cold water spilled on it by the failure of three airlines to make economic success out of Palmdale.''

Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, said he supports Palmdale air service expansion but rejects the idea of trying to open a new airport elsewhere in the region - particularly since LAWA already owns thousands of acres in Palmdale.

``I think you need to create incentives to help move (passengers to Palmdale),'' Runner said. ``If you're living in Chatsworth and you need to catch an airplane, the drive to Palmdale is a lot better than the drive to LAX.''

Runner said one option is a regional high-speed rail line that would go at least as far south as Orange County.

Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford remains interested in expanding the local air service and blamed Scenic's failure on a lack of adequate marketing and consistent, quality service.

Palmdale airport, he said, has the capacity to rival Ontario. But he also remains skeptical that creation of a commission will yield results.

``I don't want to sound negative, because I appreciate the region's support of our airport. But I don't know if we need another committee,'' Ledford said.

``We know what we need; we know what the area is going to require to be viable. We know how to get there. We need somebody who's committed to pulling that trigger.''

Harrison Sheppard, [phone]

harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com