Los Angeles approves plan for automated people mover at LAX

Airports

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Los Angeles International Airport | Facebook

By Sky Industry News

Jul 18, 2024

The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners has approved an agreement setting a construction completion date of December 8, 2025, for Los Angeles International Airport's (LAX) Automated People Mover (APM) train. The train is scheduled to begin full operations in January 2026. It will be available for free to ticketed passengers, their guests, and airport employees, and is expected to carry 30 million passengers annually, reducing vehicle miles by an estimated 42 million each year.

“This project is going to reduce traffic on our freeways and our local streets while bringing good paying union jobs to Los Angeles,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “This train will make a direct connection to the Metro system to ensure LAX welcomes Angelenos and visitors from across the globe in a truly world-class way.”

“Constituents who drive, live and work around LAX are eager for the train to start taking cars off the road,” said Councilwoman Traci Park. “I am hopeful this project will reduce congestion on our local streets; give people time back in their lives; and improve mobility for residents, travelers, and patrons of our local businesses."

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“This will be a game changer for LAX’s millions of travelers and for the residents and businesses in our surrounding neighborhoods,” said Board of Airport Commissioners President Karim Webb. “We have been working hard to ensure Angelenos benefit during the construction of this project by awarding more than $1.02 billion in contracts to local, diverse, small and veteran-owned businesses. More than 85 local businesses have been working to build this train.”

“LAX’s train will make life better for millions of people year after year. This is a critical step in our transformation of LAX to make it more welcoming, convenient and sustainable, and to enhance the airport as an economic engine for our region,” said John Ackerman, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports. “Completing this program with certainty is a top priority of LAX leadership, and this agreement does just that. The train will also make it easier for Angelenos to work at LAX, easing commutes and stress.”

The APM will operate 24/7 with trains arriving at stations every two minutes during peak hours (from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.). Running on 2.25 miles of elevated guideway, it will connect six stations: three inside the Central Terminal Area, one at LAX’s Economy Parking facility, one connecting to Metro’s LAX/Metro Transit Center station (with transfers to the C and K lines), and one at LAX’s Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility. Total end-to-end travel time will be ten minutes with a top speed of 47 miles per hour.

The construction completion date forms part of an agreement with the train’s developer, LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS). The Board and LINXS also agreed that LINXS would receive an additional $550 million largely covering already completed extra work dating back to August 2018 and an extended construction timeline. An additional $50 million has been appropriated for contingencies. To date, nearly 10,000 jobs have been created through the construction of LAX's train.

“It is an honor to continue our partnership with LAWA and deliver a transportation system that will offer an elevated experience for travelers and Los Angeles residents alike," said LINXS Constructors board member Shawn West.