LAX Automated People Mover

The LAX Automated People Mover is an automated people mover (APM) system currently under construction for Los Angeles International Airport. To be operated by Los Angeles World Airports, the LAX APM will be long and will have six stations that connect the Los Angeles Metro Rail, a consolidated car rental facility, and two intermodal transportation facilities with the airport terminals.
Route.
Once leaving the three terminal stations, heading east, the first station is a ground transportation parking structure called the "Intermodal Transportation Facility-West" that will serve employee parking, surrounding hotel access and long term airport parking. The next station will be a second car/bus/bike transport facility called the "Intermodal Transport Facility-East" as well as LA Metro Rail's platform, the under construction ground infill transit transfer station on the Metro K Line. At this multi-station stop, the first (floor) level will be ground transportation. The second level will be a bridge from the main hub to the light rail platform and APM platform. The third level will be the APM platform. The last stop on the APM will be a rental car hub station, called the Consolidated Rent-A-Car-Center (CONRAC). All the car rental companies and rentals will be here. The APM was designed to decrease the need for shuttle bus services and reduce traffic within the terminal's World Way.
Service.
The APM will operate every two minutes, with a ten-minute end-to-end travel time.
The system will have nine trains, each operating as four car sets with a capacity of up to 200 passengers.
History.
Los Angeles had bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics in 2016 and was one of two city finalists. Due to decreasing demand to host the Olympics, the IOC awarded the 2024 Summer Olympics to the city of Paris, and Los Angeles was awarded the 2028 Summer Olympics. The APM is due to be completed in 2023, in good time for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Its original projected completion date was by 2024 before the Olympic award, and it was decided to retain the original deadline. LAWA has split the project in three phases. The project has been approved and the construction and operating bidding process was commenced. Three firms submitted bids and LAWA announced scoring for the project would be based on "technical merit, visual appeal, user experience and price". LAWA proposed a public private partnership in which a private sector partner would be responsible for the construction and operation of the people mover. Los Angeles City Council gave final approval on April 11, 2018 to "LAX Integrated Express Solutions". The joint bid that included manufacturer Bombardier Transportation at $4.895 billion over 30 years to build and operate. The three phase project is estimated to cost $5.5 billion.
Construction.
Dallas based building firm Austin Commercial was awarded a five-year contract to commence construction in the first quarter of 2018 on phase one of the APM project. The project consists of bridges to connect passengers between the three proposed APM stations inside World Way and the terminals. The bridges will also house restrooms, Airport lounges offices and other spaces. The project is expected to finish by 2021, followed by phases two and three that will consist of the people mover and off site buildings. In January 2018, a consortium led by Hochtief and Bombardier Transportation was selected as the preferred developer to be awarded the $1.95 billion design/build/operate contract.
In 2018, 2,100 parking spaces in lot C were removed to reconfigure the area for phase two, the parking structures. Utility relocation started in the second quarter of 2018. The guideway started construction in spring 2019, It will take up to three years to complete. Groundbreaking was held in March 2019. The "Intermodal Transportation Facility - West" began construction in summer of 2019. The Consolidated Car Rental Facility "CONRAC" broke ground in September 2019. The first large concrete pour for the project occurred in September 2020 at the ITF west station.