LAX LANDSIDE ACCESS MODERNIZATION PROGRAM REACHES SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE WITH UNANIMOUS CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
(Los Angeles, California – June 7, 2017) The monumental plan to transform Los Angeles International Airport into a world-class gateway got a big boost today when the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved the Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) for the proposed $5.5 billion Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP). The historic project, which includes an Automated People Mover and a link to Metro rail, will dramatically improve the flow of passengers and vehicles in and near the airport’s Central Terminal Area and help to alleviate congestion on local roadways.
“This historic investment in LAX is about more than building a world-class airport — it’s about the future we are building for Los Angeles,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “LAMP will transform the way Angelenos access LAX, and visitors connect to our city. I applaud the City Council for its commitment to moving this project forward.”
“Improving options for people to get to the airport will help make LAX the world class airport and first-class neighbor that Los Angeles deserves,” said Los Angeles City Council member Mike Bonin, who represents LAX and adjacent communities on the City Council. “By connecting LAX with Metro rail, improving how travelers can access rental cars and reducing congestion in the Central Terminal Area, we are taking cars off the roads of Westchester and Playa del Rey, we are taking pollution from those cars out of the air and we are improving convenience for the millions of people who rely on LAX.”
“We are doing big things, making great strides to reimagine LAX with a $14-billion Capital Development program,” said Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Sean Burton. “This program plays such an enormous role, creating a new ‘front door’ to the airport while dramatically reducing congestion and traffic by building an elevated people mover that will connect to light rail and the biggest consolidated rental car facility in the world.
With its action today, the City Council approved the General Plan Amendments, Specific Plan Amendments, and zone changes, and concurred with the California Environmental Quality Act certification of the EIR.
“This is an exciting time for the City as we move forward Mayor Garcetti’s vision for a modern, gold-standard airport,” said LAWA Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint “We have much more work to do, but today’s decision keeps us on track to dramatically change the way guests come through LAX and will provide much-needed traffic relief. I am grateful to the City Council for today’s approval of the EIR.”
LAMP consists of several primary components tied together by the Automated People Mover (APM), an elevated train with six stations that would transport passengers between the Central Terminal Area (CTA) and the other main project components located to the east. These components include a Consolidated Rent-A-Car center and two new Intermodal Transportation Facilities, which feature public parking and passenger drop-off and pick-up areas. So that passengers can access the Metro regional rail system, the APM system would include a station at the Intermodal Transit Facility East adjacent to Metro’s proposed Airport Metro Connector station at 96th Street/Aviation Boulevard. In addition to the major components listed, LAMP also includes planned roadway improvements throughout the LAX area.
LAWA prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for LAMP in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which was released on September 15, 2016. The official comment period for the Draft EIR ran from September 15 through November 15, 2016. Two public meetings were held in October 2016 that allowed the public to learn about LAMP and its components, with attendees able to submit comments following presentations from LAWA staff and consultants. The Final EIR was released in February 2017.
With the CEQA process drawing to a conclusion, attention turns to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval, which continues with the upcoming release of the Draft Environmental Assessment.
For more information about the proposed LAX Landside Access Modernization Program, visit www.connectinglax.com and www.facebook.com/connectinglax .
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX is the seventh busiest airport in the world and second in the United States. LAX served more than 80.9 million passengers in 2016. LAX offers 742 daily nonstop flights to 101 cities in the U.S. and 1,280 weekly nonstop flights to 77 cities in 42 countries on 64 commercial air carriers. LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion. LAX handled 697,138 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2016.
An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,610 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital-improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion, $966 million in state and local taxes, and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.
LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with 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 at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport , and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1 . Information about LAX’s ongoing multi-billion-dollar LAX Modernization Program, as well as tips and shortcuts to help navigate LAX during construction, are available at www.LAXisHappening.com .
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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