The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners authorized staff on April 21 to enter into a Letter of Agreement with the City of El Segundo for its Residential Sound Insulation Grant Program. El Segundo will receive $9.225 million from the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) for an eligible noise-mitigation project, it was announced.
The LAWA grant, combined with a $5-million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will enable the City of El Segundo to execute a grant implementation plant that would call for the soundproofing 287 single and multifamily dwellings impacted by flights coming in and out of LAX.
According to airport officials, the project cost covers all acoustical, administrative, architectural, construction, and engineering activities.
Airport officials added construction contractors typically install double-paned windows, solid-core doors, fireplace doors and dampers, attic baffles, insulation, and other elements to achieve a targeted interior noise level of 45 decibels.
With the completion of these units, airport officials believe El Segundo having sound insulated 2,160 units, or 38 percent, of its 4,537 eligible dwelling units.
The grant is in accordance with the (LAX) Airport Master Plan Stipulated Settlement Agreement reached in February 2006, which calls for LAWA, the Los Angeles City department that owns and operates LAX, to provide up to $22.5 million annually through 2015 to the cities of El Segundo and Inglewood, and the County of Los Angeles for noise-mitigation grants.
Airport officials stated El Segundo began accepting LAWA sound insulation grants in 2006. To date, the City has reportedly received LAWA grants totaling $40.6 million and FAA grants totaling $48.1 million for an overall total of $88.7 million in combined funding.
In other action at the Board of Airport Commissioners’ April 21 meeting, a quarterly report presented to LAX’s governing agency listed 130 recommended actions to improve emergency responses. The recommendations were made in light of the November 2013 fatal shooting at LAX involving a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the security checkpoint area of Terminal 3. Westside Today will track these whether any of the recommended changes will be implemented.
The Board of Airport Commissioners also reportedly held off deciding whether to terminate an agreement with Menzies Aviation, a cargo handling and ground services firm for LAX’s airlines. According to news reports, Menzies Aviation employees, who handle airline passengers’ luggage, have been accused of security violations and theft. As this story develops, Westside Today will update its coverage.
