The people mover and other projects around the airport are expected to be built by 2028, before the start of the Summer Olympic Games.
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the department that owns and operates Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), shared progress on its new and anticipated automated people mover (APM) system. The system is part of the airport’s Landside Access Modernization Program, costing $5.5 million.
Officials said the people mover system will provide quick access to the airport’s terminals and stations. More than 25 million passengers use the APM per year, according to the airport.
Getting through the airport in 10 minutes
The APM will be an electric train system running along a 2.25-mile elevated concrete guideway. According to Urbanize Los Angeles, the system will connect the central terminal area with two new ground transportation hubs located to the east, as well as a new Metro Rail connection and a massive car rental hub.
The train fleet of driverless INNOVIA 300 vehicles reportedly arrived in Los Angeles last year. During peak hours, the monorail-like system will run nine trains, each with four cars capable of carrying up to 50 passengers.
Photo: Los Angeles World Airports
Traveling at speeds of 47 mph, the system will operate every two minutes, taking approximately ten minutes to complete one trip from the westernmost station in the central terminal area to the easternmost station, where the rental car hub is located.
Sustainable transportation
LAWA said the APM will keep fewer vehicles on the road daily.
“For easy access, the APM trains will have large, wide doors and each car will have 12 seats designated for travelers in need. The APM will be FREE for all users and operate at all times. With an anticipated use of approximately 30 million passengers per year, it is estimated that the APM will result in 117,000 fewer vehicle miles traveled per day.”
The department also said the APM will allow travelers to view real-time flight information, public art in a variety of media, and the iconic theme building from a brand new perspective as the train enters the central terminal area.
Photo: Los Angeles World Airports
“In addition to reducing traffic, the APM will leverage cutting-edge sustainability practices to reduce the airport area’s carbon footprint,” the LAWA said. “The system’s fleet will consist of 44 cars that are fully electric, 98% recyclable and generate a portion of their own power through regenerative braking, while providing an industry-leading ride quality for users.”
Other projects
LAX is also in the process of a $15 billion airport-wide overhaul. According to Urbanize Los Angeles, the airport recently debuted the $1.73 billion West Gates expansion of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, which added 15 new passenger gates in a five-story, 1,700-foot-long building. A new Terminal 1 concourse is also expected to be added in the coming year, along with a new terminal on the east side of Sepulveda Boulevard.
Photo: Los Angeles World Airports
The construction progress comes as the airport expects to see 200,000 daily passengers between this month and April during the Spring break travel season. Last year, more than 60 million travelers passed through LAX.
LAWA said the APM is expected to be completed sometime this year.
Source: Urbanize Los Angeles
Source: simpleflying.com
