Livermore – The Tri-Valley City is considering expanding and improving municipal airports to add resources for emergency response teams, strengthen air traffic control capabilities, and develop new technologies such as hydrogen and power equipment.
The plan creates an aviation innovation centre and spreads across 14 undeveloped locations at the 590-acre Livermore Municipal Airport, south of Interstate 580 between El Charo Road, Isabel Avenue and Jack London Boulevard, in search of a redevelopment of about 165 acres.
The airport does not provide passenger services for commercial airlines, but it was a hub for jets, especially when the Bay Area hosts a massive event Super Bowl LI in 2016, which helped emergency aircraft fight wildfires.
Livermore Mayor John Marchand called the airport the “economic engine” of the city with “explosive possibilities out there.”
“We're running away from piston-driven aircraft to these new technologies,” said Merchand. “It really intends to strengthen Livermore's role as an innovation leader at the airport.”
Merchand added that the airport can be used for taxis between other regional airports, or that it can be used by businesses that don't want employees to be stuck in I-580 traffic, which the mayor called “parking” during their morning and evening commutes.
More than half of the residents surveyed were concerned about noise from air traffic and worsening air quality, according to the city's survey.
Merchand has admitted that some people find planes with small pistons noisy, while others are concerned about unleaded fuel locally that can damage the air. However, he said that by building an innovation centre that is part of the redevelopment plan and allowing new aviation technologies, Livermore offers an opportunity to alleviate those concerns.
“This gives the community what they want. They say they want quiet and clean technology,” said Merchand. “We have all the resources out there. If you do, there are some very interesting technologies and businesses looking for a place to land.”
The Livermore Airport Commission is scheduled to discuss development plans at a meeting Wednesday at 6:30pm, and Livermore City Council can discuss the proposal as early as next month.
Original issue: March 18, 2025, 3:38pm PDT
