Proposals vary for problems with JWA

Now that the dream of the El Toro International Airport seems to

be dead, maybe it is time to consider alternatives. I like the idea

of exploring the possibility of supporting the expansion of Ontario

International Airport to satisfy growing demand for passenger and

cargo usage from Orange County. I would like to see a feasibility

study of using the existing right-of-ways for the some of the

freeways and roadways that lead from Orange County to Ontario for a

light rail system (maybe elevated over the center divider) that would

be exclusively for transportation to the airport. There could be a

limited number of “stations” along the route where airport passengers

could park their cars, and get checked-in with curbside service, as

is done at the airport (including checking baggage).

Furthermore, there could be a few “stations/cargo terminals” where

trucks could unload their cargo which is airport bound, thereby

saving them from having to drive to Ontario. If such a system could

be designed, then the extra airport-bound traffic that would normally

add to further congestion on our county roads would be minimized.

PAUL KELLY

Costa Mesa

I think that should have been where are efforts should have been

put as a city, Newport Beach, 10 years ago. The people in the Inland

Empire are looking for the economic stimulus that an airport would

bring, and it does answer the problems that we have here with John

Wayne Airport.

GUS CHABRE

Newport Beach

Spending millions on an Inland Empire airport is as absurd as the

proposed Great Park, when one of the best airports in the world is

centrally located and available at El Toro. As a World War II and

Korean War Navy pilot, I enjoyed safe flying in and out of El Toro.

Our congressmen and Gov. Gray Davis should realize that this airport

is an economic must and get it back on track before the area around

El Toro is totally overbuilt.

ROGER BROWN

Naval aviator, retired

Newport Beach

The only idea that really makes sense, if you’ve traveled around

the world, you will notice that most international airports and other

airports are joint military and commercial. We could have one of the

finest international airports in the world in the inland Camp

Pendleton area. The marines could still have the beach and everything

else. The flights could fly over it and not bother anyone. It would

be joint military and commercial. Tax increments would come from San

Diego, Orange and Riverside counties and from the federal government.

It could all work as one.

Security would be perfect because we could have the Marines that

sit around there that aren’t doing anything -- I was in the military,

I know there’s a lot of downtime. Those marines could be used as

security around the base. There’s just so many yeses to this idea and

so many pluses that it’s probably too logical for our elected

officials to see it.

I don’t understand why the Daily Pilot hasn’t figured that one

out, or anyone else, because it’s possible. It’s done around the

world and, like I say, we would have tax increments from three

counties, from the federal government, from the state, and it

wouldn’t be a burden on any one county and it would handle three

counties. I just don’t understand why we don’t do something like

that.

JOHN BANICH

Newport Beach

I say yes. However, it’s a crying shame that El Toro airport, such

a gift from the federal government, is not being used and saving the

taxpayers millions of dollars by using that airport as a commercial

airport instead of trying to expand John Wayne Airport, which the

city of Newport Beach just voted on the other day, which is a huge

mistake. It’s just going to ruin the quality of life around here. We

moved to this area knowing there was an airport, but not expecting

them to expand it any more than it already is.

FRANK HANRAHAN

Costa Mesa