Airports
Federal Judge Grants TRO To Halt SMO Runway Shortening
The judge believes the case against Santa Monica would likely prevail in court.
A temporary restraining order put the brakes on the runway-shortening process planned for Santa Monica Airport.
A temporary restraining order put the brakes on the runway-shortening process planned for Santa Monica Airport.

A U.S. District Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Sunday to halt the city of Santa Monica, California, from shortening the runway at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) from 5,000 feet to 3,500 feet. The city had planned to begin work on the runway shortening project on October 9, marking another step in the city’s effort to close the airport by the end of 2028 under a settlement agreement struck the FAA earlier this year.