From the Beverly Hills Courier
(CNS) – The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday approved a $4.9 billion contract for the design and construction of an Automated People Mover system at Los Angeles International Airport that will carry passengers among terminals and connect with nearby rail lines.
The 30-year contract, approved on a 14-0 vote, was awarded to a consortium of companies known as LAX Integrated Express Solutions, and also covers operation and maintenance of the 2.25-mile elevated guideway.
“This is such an impressive, well-done deal. It really is,” Councilman Mike Bonin said during a meeting of the council’s Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee on Tuesday.
The system is expected to be completed by 2022, when testing will begin in advance of the People Mover opening to the public in early 2023.
According to Los Angeles World Airports, the city agency that operates the airport, the People Mover will feature driverless trains traveling among six stations — three inside the airport terminal loop and three outside the airport. The system is expected to connect with the Metro Green and Crenshaw/LAX light rail lines.
Electric-powered trains are expected to operate every two minutes, with each train carrying up to 200 people.
LAWA officials anticipate the system will be used by 85.1 million passengers per year.
From Los Angeles World Airports
Automated People Mover
The Automated People Mover (APM) is an electric train system on a 2.25 mile elevated guideway with six stations total – three outside the terminal loop and three inside.
LAX anticipates groundbreaking in 2018 and the APM to be fully operational in 2023. Pre-construction activities—such as utility relocations, geotechnical investigations and surveying—will begin in the second quarter of 2018. Construction of the guideway—the elevated track along which the APM will run—will start in Summer-Fall 2019. Late 2019 will see construction begin on the six stations. The first APM car will be delivered in late 2020. Major construction will be complete in mid-2022, at which point extensive testing will begin for several months. The APM will be open for passenger services in early 2023.
The APM will have nine trains, each with four cars. Each car will carry up to 50 passengers and their luggage, with a total of 200 per train. Train speed will top out at 47 mph. Trains will be available at each station every two minutes with a total of 10 minutes travel time end-to-end. 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. Anticipated use will be 30 million passengers per year.
The APM trains, elevators, escalators, and moving sidewalks provide for quick access to the terminals and stations. Passengers will be able to view real-time flight information, public art in a variety of media, and will see the iconic Theme Building from a brand new perspective as the train enters the Central Terminal Area.
In addition to reducing traffic, the APM will leverage cutting-edge sustainability practices to reduce the airport area’s carbon footprint. The system’s fleet will consist of 44 cars that are fully electric powered, 98% recyclable, and generate a portion of their own power through regenerative breaking, while providing an industry-leading ride quality for users. Our command center and maintenance facility generates nearly half of its power from solar energy and is designed to be LEED Gold Certified. These design enhancements allowed the team to offset the carbon equivalent of 12 million vehicle miles driven.
The APM is an historic investment in Los Angeles’ emerging businesses and workforce. More than $580 Million has been identified for local, small or disabled veteran-owned businesses, with $94 Million commitment exclusively to local, small businesses right here in Los Angeles. The project will create more than 1,500 construction jobs, with 30% of those opportunities being reserved for residents of Los Angeles as well as highly impacted communities near LAX. Sixty percent of careers during the 25-year Operations and Maintenance phase are designated for local workers. LINXS, the selected APM developer—has built partnerships with community-based organizations to focus on expanding the pipeline of workers, especially those from non-traditional backgrounds. Through more than $900,000 in investments, the project will create infrastructure career pathways for women, former foster youth, individuals in reentry and transitioning out of gang involvement, and persons with disabilities. HireLAX, LAWA’s Apprenticeship Readiness Program, will be a key partner in this effort, as will other resources offered by the Building Trades and other industry partners. Beginning in March 2018, LINXS will host an on-site career resources office.
