A coalition of Oakland residents and environmentalists trying to stop the expansion of the Oakland airport had their hopes dashed yesterday in court. The groups sued in December 2024, alleging the port hadn’t fully addressed all of the environmental impacts a bigger, busier airport would have on the East Bay.
In a 47-page decision, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Michael Markman ruled on Monday that the port had supplied “substantial evidence” to support its decision to approve an environmental impact report.
The airport plans to modernize aging facilities, add a new terminal, and increase the number of gates for more flights. Airport officials argue that this is necessary to accommodate more passengers; according to public records, the existing terminals were designed to accommodate 8-10 million annual travelers, but in 2019, that number surpassed 13 million…