LAX Breaks Ground on Automated People Mover

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti broke ground on the automated people mover last week, a train which will connect travelers directly to airport terminals and create new and convenient locations for passenger pick-up and drop-off outside the central terminal area.

The train is the centerpiece of the Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP), which also includes a consolidated rent-a-car facility and associated roadway improvements. Once completed in 2023, the APM will connect with L.A. Metro's light rail system. 

The infrastructure project will transform public transportation, reduce traffic congestion, and deliver a world-class experience for travelers at Los Angeles International Airport.

The mayor was joined by Councilmember Mike Bonin, Supervisors Janice Hahn and Mark Ridley-Thomas, Board of Airport Commissioners President Sean Burton and Los Angeles World Airports CEO Deborah Flint, as well as community and labor leaders at the groundbreaking ceremony.

“Everyone traveling to or from LAX should have access to modern, reliable public transportation that gets them to their destination on time,” Garcetti said. “The automated people mover is a historic investment in our city’s transportation infrastructure — a milestone that will create middle-class jobs, reduce traffic congestion, and deliver a world-class experience for travelers.”

Trains will arrive every two minutes, have wide doors for easy access, large windows for viewing, and plenty of hand holds and seats for those in need. Station platforms are open air and will have escalators, elevators, and moving walkways for quick access to the terminals. The trains will relieve traffic congestion and are expected to serve 30 million travelers annually from 2023.

On April 11, a 30-year, $4.9 billion contract with LINXS, the developer of the people mover, was unanimously approved by the Los Angeles City Council, marking the largest contract ever awarded in the city's history. Since then, LINXS has focused on finalizing the design of the guideway, operations systems, and stations along the 2.25-mile path — work that now allows for the start of major construction on the project.

Through this public-private partnership contracting model, LINXS is designing, building, and financing the project and is also responsible for operating and maintaining the trains and stations for a 30-year period.

Originally posted on Auto Rental News