The plan was defeated in favor of an alternate plan that would limit passenger traffic through LAX to 78 million a year and shift airport expansion to Orange County and neighboring areas. The action is part of the planning committee's attempt to draft long-range guidelines for Southern California's airport growth in six neighboring counties over the next 25 years. Although the alternate plan won out, it still will require at least two additional votes by the planning agency.

Blueprints for the LAX expansion program, which were released in January, call for the construction of a new terminal and lengthening of runways, among other changes. When completed, the expansion would increase passengers traffic to 89 million annually, from the current 67 million figure. The LAX-expansion program will come up for vote until July, the end of a public comment period on the project that began in January.