OC sits out airport effort

The problem with region-wide transportation efforts is that everybody has to sign on. Otherwise, the plan falls apart. Such is the case with trying to ease congestion at the area's airports. I'm playing catch-up on a Monday Daily Breeze story about Orange County refusing to take a seat on a regional alliance that's pushing for growth at smaller suburban airports. OC residents make millions of trips to LAX every year, but the county doesn't want any more air traffic coming its way. There are legitimate reasons for taking this stand - OC's John Wayne Airport is nearing capacity and the county has opposed efforts at developing an airport at El Toro. "We're willing to participate," John Moorlach, an OC supervisor told the Breeze. But "if the purpose of (the alliance) is just to help LAX reduce the number of flights using their airport, then we're not interested." More from the Breeze:

Officials from as far away as San Diego and Ventura counties have been meeting in recent months to resurrect an old regional alliance that could address air traffic congestion across Southern California. That alliance -- officially the Southern California Regional Airport Authority -- would foster the spread of flights away from LAX and toward smaller, outlying airports. But Orange County has been wary in the past of such efforts -- and what they would mean for John Wayne Airport.

[CUT]

Orange County is not alone in wanting to limit the air traffic roaring over its neighborhoods. Both Burbank and Long Beach have sought to restrict the growth of their airports; even LAX has pledged to take steps to ensure its passenger counts don't rise unchecked. But Orange County could make or break any regionwide plan to handle future air traffic. By some estimates, Orange County alone will account for 32 million air travelers a year by 2030 -- three times the current capacity of John Wayne Airport.