LA City Council Approves $4.9B Contract for LAX People Mover

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles City Council on 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.