The Oakland Airport Expansion Project: Here’s What You Should Know 

So, what is this project?  

The OAK Terminal Modernization and Development Project aims to “modernize and rebuild existing terminal and cargo facilities, expand parking, and build a new passenger terminal that would result in a net addition of 16 passenger gates” (Der, 2024). The Port of Oakland, which owns and operates OAK, proposes the expansion in order to meet the increasing passenger and cargo demands that the next twenty years are expected to bring (Hassan, 2024). According to their website, this project is also needed due to the “age, condition, and size of the existing OAK terminals,” and that “development is needed in order to meet industry safety standards, and improve operational efficiency” (Port of Oakland, 2023). This project has been subject to protests since its establishment in 2021 (Rhoades, 2024). In the summer of 2023, project planners released a draft environmental impact report (DEIR) and have been moving forth in the planning process since.

What are people saying about it?  

Supporters back the project because they believe in its potential for social and economic benefit. Others have been more critical of this project and advocate against it due to environmental justice concerns. A major player in the opposition of the Port is the Stop OAK Expansion Coalition, which includes residents, community members, and 80 grassroots organizations. For example, Dr. Paul English (a former epidemiologist with the California Department of Public Health and member of the Stop OAK Expansion Coalition who filed a lawsuit against the Port of Oakland) said the following in an interview with ABC 7 news: “By doing (these) additional gates and increased airport traffic, these communities will be getting additional pollution in an area already overburdened by pollution” (Hassan, 2024). Aside from the adverse impacts to human wellbeing, environmental justice (EJ) advocates also take issue with the OAK expansion because it violates the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by not fully defining the project; there is no analysis of what could be doubling the fossil fuel storage and distribution at the airport. Sarah Chen Small, an attorney with Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) in Oakland (who is also part of the Stop OAK Coalition and filed a lawsuit against the Port of Oakland) explains that this vagueness “leaves the door open for the Port to make decisions in the dark later” (Hassan, 2024). In fact, the legal violations under CEQA appear to be quite severe, Chen-Small explains in another interview that “virtually every aspect of their obligations under CEQA are not being met right now” (Rhoades, 2024).

Another important aspect of this issue is that the Port of Oakland did a risk assessment as part of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), but EJ advocates, like those affiliated with the Stop OAK Coalition, explain that the risk assessment alone is not sufficient and that they should conduct a health impact assessment–which is more comprehensive. They explain that this is because health impact assessments point out inequities in ways other measures don’t. English explains how this is incredibly important for a variety of reasons, but mainly that environmental justice issues already are so pervasive in Oakland. He says how, in Oakland, ER visits from asthma are three times higher than the state average, coronary obstructive pulmonary disease is twice the state average, and heart attacks are 45% higher than the state average. Similarly, a youth organizer with CBE, Gus Gutierrez, says that “East Oakland is one of the hardest-hit communities in all of California” (Rhoades, 2024). He also said that while he understands the importance of economic development, he does not believe it should come at the cost of the health of local communities and environments–he believes this should be a greater consideration. Finally, Rhoades’ report explains how Port representatives believe health impacts from airport operations will be there with or without the expansion. But community members disagree. They believe these impacts should be taken more seriously than that, and they should not be so easily dismissed. Because frankly, they are the ones who bear the consequences of corporate irresponsibility—down to their very lungs.

My Perspective 

From what I have gathered through my investigation of the OAK Expansion Project, I view this project as inherently problematic, damaging, and irresponsible. In fact, I actually believe that this is quite simple. When community members are saying en masse that something isn’t good for them, like the Stop OAK Coalition and many Oakland community members have in this case, then I don’t think it’s right for outsiders to tell them otherwise. Nor do I believe those outsiders should wield such outsized power that they can act on their own agendas, in spite of the community’s demands and without consequence. With that said, I think this is another example of how capitalism and environmental racism continue to harm communities (disproportionately BIPOC ones, at that) and the environment. To me, this is another example of how corporations continually put profit over people. It doesn’t take much schooling or environmental education to know that this dynamic is wrong. I believe it should not be controversial to say quite simply that local people should have the power to drive their own communities, that clean air, land, and water is a human right, and that the environment should be treated as intrinsically valuable in and of itself–not thoughtlessly exploited and tortured as a means to an end (the end being corporate greed). I believe that with this project, there are of course valid points about the need for effective and up to date transportation and industry. This is obviously important. However, when the local community expresses concern and that they quite simply do not support this initiative, I believe that is when creative, collaborative, and environmentally just solutions must come into play. If you’re interested in taking action or joining the conversation there’s resources at the Stop OAK Expansion coalition website. Or if you just want to learn more here are a few more articles:

“Scientist activist group criticizes Oakland airport expansion” by Jose Martinez with CBS News Bay Area
“Oakland airport expansion will move forward after settlement over noise traffic and air quality concerns” by Chase Hunter with The Mercury News.

 

References

Der, K. (2024, November 12). “Council Hears OAK Expansion, Herrera Spencer Admonishment.” The Alameda Post. https://alamedapost.com/news/council-hears-oak-airport-ex pansion-herrera-spencer-admonishment/#:~:text=The%20part%20of%20 Oakland%E2%80%94 which,terminal%20that%20would%20result%20in.

Hassan, A. (2024, December 21). “2 lawsuits challenge environmental, health impacts of Oakland Airport expansion.” ABC 7 News. https://abc7news.com/post/san-francisco-bay-oaklan d-international-airport-2-lawsuits-challenge-environmental-health-impacts-oak-expansion/15689474/.

Hunter, C. (2025, March 23). “Oakland airport expansion will move forward after settlement over noise, traffic, and air-quality concerns.” The Mercury News. https://www.mercurynews.com /2025/03/22/oakland-airport-expansion-will-move-forward-after-settlement-over-noise-traffic-and-air-quality-concerns/.

I Fly Oak. (2025). Oak Terminal Modernization and Development Project. https://www.iflyoak.c om/business/terminal-modernization/.

Martinez, J. (2024, July 25). “Scientist activist group criticizes Oakland airport expansion.” CBS News Bay Area. https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/scientist-activist-group-criticizes- oakland-airport-expansion/.

Port of Oakland. (2024, October). Terminal Modernization and Development Project: Final Environmental Impact Report. Port of Oakland. https://www.iflyoak.com/wp-content/uploads /2024/10/241014_Task-21.10-FEIR-Availability-English.pdf.

Rhoades, C. (2024, November 11). “Group opposing OAK airport expansion says health concerns have been ignored.” The Oaklandside. https://oaklandside.org/2024/11/21/oak-airpor t-expansion-coalition-oppose-port-of-oakland/.

Stop OAK Airport Expansion Coalition. (2025). Home. Stop OAK Airport Expansion Coalition.  https://www.stopoakexpansion.org/.