A page from the Metro final environmental study. Click on any image to see larger version. A page from the Metro final environmental study. A page from the Metro final environmental study. Los Angeles World Airports rendering of the people mover route. Los Angeles World Airports rendering of the people mover route looking toward the terminal horseshoe. A rendering of the walkways that will connect the people mover stations to the terminals. Credit: LAWA.

An important hurdle for connecting Metro Rail to LAX was cleared today when the Metro Board of Directors approved the final environmental study for the Airport Metro Connector 96th Street Transit Station project.

The project involves building a new transit station at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street near the airport that will be the primary transfer point to a people mover that will serve the LAX passenger terminals. The station will serve Crenshaw/LAX Line and Green Line trains as well as Metro and muni buses. There will also be a pickup and drop-off area for those arriving by private vehicles and a bike hub.

With the study done, the project will move into the design and procurement phase. Even though the project is not part of the Crenshaw/LAX Line, the contractor building that rail line is doing some work to make it easier to build the station later.

Measure M is scheduled to supply $347 million for the project in addition to $234 million from Measure R, the state and other sources. Under the M spending plan, the project is scheduled to break ground in fiscal year 2018-19 and be completed 2021-23. The Crenshaw/LAX Line is forecast to open in fall 2019. Los Angeles World Airports has said they are trying to complete the people mover by 2023 with an eye toward a possible Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2024.

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