The Board of Airport Commissioners that oversees Los Angeles World Airports — and LAX — today approved a plan to build a people mover that will offer a connection between airport terminals and the Aviation/96th Street Station for the Crenshaw/LAX Line. The formal environmental studies still must be done and LAWA says construction is expected to begin in 2017.

Here’s the news release from Los Angeles World Airports:

Los Angeles – The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners today unanimously approved moving forward with a $4 billion plan to transform LAX’s ground transportation and arrival and departure experience. The future Landside Access Modernization Program includes a new automated LAX Train that will connect passengers to the airline terminals from new facilities at the airport including a Rental Car Center, multiple locations for passenger pick-up and drop-off, and Metro’s planned Crenshaw Line station at 96th Street/Aviation Boulevard. The plan is designed to relieve congestion in the Central Terminal Area (CTA) as well as on local streets surrounding the airport.

“Today we are moving one step closer to bringing rail to LAX and building the world-class airport our residents and visitors deserve,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who chairs the Metro Board of Directors. “The automated train to LAX, consolidated Rental Car Center and new passenger check-in facility will not only save time for travelers, but it will also ease traffic at the airport, on our freeways and in the surrounding neighborhoods. The LAX train will also improve our local economy as part of our airport modernization program that will create 40,000 jobs, remodel terminals and dramatically upgrade the passenger experience at LAX.”

“This is a big day for L.A. We are moving to make good on a long-standing promise to all Angelenos: We will connect LAX to a Metro station, and we’ll make it easier, faster, and more convenient to travel through our airport,” Councilmember Mike Bonin, Chair of the City Council’s Transportation Committee said. “With a new Automated People Mover, Metro Station, Consolidated Rental Car and intermodal transportation facilities, we’ll remove traffic and congestion from terminal areas and nearby neighborhoods, making LAX a world-class airport as well as a first class neighbor.”

The Board’s vote sets the groundwork for the LAX Landside Access Modernization Program to begin the environmental review process in January 2015. Construction is expected to begin in 2017.

“This Program will transform how people travel to and from LAX in the future,” said Sean Burton, President of the Board of Airport Commissioners. “We are committed to building a system that will relieve congestion, encourage transit use and create a reliable, efficient, time-certain arrival and departure experience for residents and visitors.”

The LAX Landside Modernization Program includes the following elements:

A new automated LAX Train to connect the passenger terminals to the Rent-A-Car Center, multiple pick-up and drop-off facilities and Metro’s planned Crenshaw Line station at 96th Street/Aviation Boulevard.

– Provides free, fast, reliable and convenient access to terminals for passengers, employees and other users of LAX 24/7, 365 days a year.

– Includes three stations in the Central Terminal Area connecting to the airline terminals with a convenient pedestrian walkway system.

– Encourages passenger pick-up and drop-off outside the Central Terminal Area.

– Designed specifically for travelers with luggage.

A single Rent-A-Car Center that will consolidate all rental car companies into one convenient location connected to the airport by the LAX Train.

– Improves the customer experience for visitors renting cars at LAX.

– Eliminates the need for rental car shuttles.

– Provides rental car customers direct access to major freeways.

New locations for arrival, departure, pick-up and drop-off outside the Central Terminal Area connected to the airport by the LAX Train.

– Offers new convenient parking with direct access to the LAX Train.

– Provides easily accessible and comfortable areas to meet and greet passengers.

– Creates new pick-up and drop-off locations with access to other hotel and airport shuttles.

– Includes retail, dining options and other amenities.

A quick connection to Metro’s planned Crenshaw Line station at 96th Street/Aviation Boulevard.

– The LAX Train will link the airport to Metro’s transit station and provide a connection to the region.

“This is an important commitment to Los Angeles,” said Gina Marie Lindsey, Executive Director Los Angeles World Airports. “The Board’s decision today means local residents and visitors to LAX won’t have to wait a generation to benefit from these improvements. Improvements are happening now.”

The Landside Access Modernization Program is part of the overall LAX modernization plan and will go through a comprehensive environmental review and approval process before it can proceed. There will be many opportunities for the public to participate throughout the process. For more information go to www.connectinglax.com

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX is the sixth busiest airport in the world and third in the United States. LAX offers 692 daily nonstop flights to 85 cities in the U.S. and 928 weekly nonstop flights to 67 cities in 34 countries on 62 commercial air carriers. LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with over 1.9 million tons of air cargo valued at over $91.6 billion. An economic study in 2011 reported that operations at LAX generated 294,400 jobs in Los Angeles County with labor income of $13.6 billion and economic output of more than $39.7 billion. This activity added $2.5 billion to local and state revenues. LAX is part of a system of three Southern California airports – along with LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.

For more information about LAX, please visit www.lawa.aero/lax or follow on Twitter @flyLAXAirport, on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport , and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1 .

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.

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