OAKLAND BOARD OF PORT COMMISSIONERS APPROVES 20-YEAR MASTER PLAN FOR OAK

Master Planning Process Was Collaborative Effort Between Port Staff and Stakeholder Advisory Committee

Oakland, Calif., -- The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners yesterday adopted a resolution approving a master plan for Oakland International Airport (OAK). This resolution allows the airport to move forward with identifying specific development projects through 2025. Six of the seven-member Board of Port Commissioners were in attendance and unanimously approved the document at the regularly scheduled Port Board meeting. The Port Commissioners also recognized and thanked the members of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee for their contributions to the process.

The Port Commissioners approved a master plan for OAK that is a concept-level planning and feasibility study that focuses on: o Near-term (2010 to 2012) and long-term (2025) airport land-use guidance;

Potential near-term projects (2010 to 2012) and accommodating near-term airline passenger activity forecasts. A 17- to 21-gate terminal is recommended for further study, located northwest of the existing terminal complex;

The speculative nature of long-term (2025) forecasts which are not reasonably foreseeable at this time. Further, the long-term, unconstrained airline passenger forecasts are not likely to be realized due to limitations on South Field (air carrier) runway capacity (a new runway is not proposed in this master plan);

Need for a new South Field (air carrier) runway in the 2015 to 2025 timeframe. However, due to environmental constraints and funding limitations, the Port will not pursue a new air carrier runway at this time; and

A low-growth air cargo forecast aimed at existing air cargo tenants is recommended as the Port intends to deemphasize marketing new air cargo airlines and service.

"This marks the completion of an 18-month study which included Port staff and representatives of the local community," said the Port's Director of Aviation Steven Grossman. "Thousands of hours and significant attention to detail were given to this project by staff and the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, resulting in unanimous approval by the Port Commissioners. This reflects the dedication and importance the group gave to their work."

Since June 2004, Port staff has been working closely with the Stakeholder Advisory Committee to prepare a master plan for OAK. The Stakeholder Advisory Committee includes representatives from the cities of Alameda, San Leandro and Oakland, San Leandro Unified School District, Alameda County, and airport users, including fixed-base operators, passenger and cargo airlines, the Port's Airline Liaison Office, and flight training/light general aviation aircraft operators.

The role of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee was to (1) advise Port staff on long-range, high-level planning issues at OAK; (2) provide input on master plan technical issues; and (3) identify potential impacts early-on in the planning process.

"Preparing a master plan for Oakland International Airport was a collaborative effort between Port of Oakland staff and representatives of airport neighbors, and an excellent learning experience for us all," said Kathleen Ornelas, community relations representative for the city of San Leandro. "San Leandro officials are supportive of the final master plan document and we look forward to continuing to work with the Port to study specific airport development projects."

The master planning process and master plan meet the requirements of the Port's Phase One and Phase Two Settlement Agreements with the city of Alameda, Citizens League for Airport Safety and Serenity (CLASS), and Berkeley Keep Jets Over the Bay Committee.

"Alameda's CLASS views the stakeholder meetings during the preparation of the master plan as a very useful process, which can serve as a model for the communication that needs to occur between Oakland International Airport and the citizens and governing bodies of surrounding communities," said CLASS president, Gary Hoffer. "CLASS was pleased to have participated in this process, and we look forward to continuing productive interaction with the airport in the future."

The master plan was prepared in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular No. 150/5070-6A, Airport Master Plans. In addition to the Stakeholder Advisory Committee process, draft master plan results and recommendations were shared with the public and there was opportunity for public input at several public meetings. A summary of the master plan and the full master plan document are available in the Development section of oaklandairport.com.

OAK has over 200 flights a day on 12 domestic and international carriers to 39 nonstop destinations, including Atlanta, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, the Hawaiian Islands including Hilo (begins Apr. 27), New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Mexico and seasonal service to the Azores (Portugal), Costa Rica and Sun Valley, Idaho. OAK served 14.4 million passengers and handled over 671,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2005. Visit oaklandairport.com for more information.

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