The long-fuzzy plan to finally build a rail connection to LAX is starting to come into focus—we now have a construction schedule for the automatic people mover that will link Metro to the airport, and a decision on how many stops it'll have inside the airport (three, more on that in a minute). Officials from Los Angeles World Airports, which runs LAX, gave the Metro board an update on the project yesterday, and promised to be finished with the people mover by 2024, when Los Angeles is hoping to host the summer Olympics (the city's improved public transit is central to its bid, which was just submitted to the US Committee). They plan to start environmental studies at the beginning of 2015 and break ground in 2017 or 2018, with five to seven years for construction.

The people mover will connect to a recently-added Ninety-Sixth Street station on the under-construction Crenshaw Line, which is expected to open in 2019. From there it will travel east to a forthcoming rental car facility, and west to an also-forthcoming Intermodal Transportation Facility with parking, shuttle buses, and pick-up/drop-off areas, then to three stations inside LAX. The Source reports that one station will serve Terminals 1, 6, and 7; one for 5 and 6; and one for Tom Bradley International, 3, and 4. The project will also include new moving sidewalks to move passengers between the people mover and the terminals.



· Actions taken today by the Metro Board of Directors [The Source]

· Crenshaw Line Will Get a Fancy New Stop to Connect to LAX [Curbed LA]

· All the Details on LAX's Potential People Mover System [Curbed LA]

· Here's Los Angeles's Plan For Winning the 2024 Olympics [Curbed LA]