LAWA – Automated People Mover (APM)
Project Synopsis
The Automated People Mover (APM) is the centerpiece of LAX’s $5.5 Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) which will enhance the traveler experience, give guests time-certain access to terminals and provide the long-awaited connection to the regional transportation system. The 30-year, $4.9 billion contract was the largest ever awarded in the City of Los Angeles’ history and was the first Public Private Partnership (P3) contract at LAX. LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS) is the joint venture selected to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the project.
LAX broke ground on the APM project in March of 2019 and anticipates that the system will be operational in 2023. Pre-construction activities—such as utility relocations, geotechnical investigations and surveying—began in 2018 and major construction activities are ongoing both inside and outside the CTA. The APM cars will be delivered in 2022, and once major construction is complete, extensive testing will begin.
The electric train system features a 2.25-mile elevated guideway with six stations total – three inside the Central Terminal Area (CTA) and three outside the CTA. During peak hours (9 a.m. to 11 p.m.), the nine trains will run on the guideway, each with four cars, and will be capable of carrying up to 50 passengers and their luggage, for a total of 200 passengers per train. Train speed will top out at 47 mph. Trains will pull into a station every two minutes during peak hours with a total travel time of 10 minutes end-to-end (from the Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility to the West CTA Station). For easy access, the APM trains will have large, wide doors with level boarding and each car has 12 seats designated for travelers in need. The APM will be FREE for all users and will operate 24/7. With an anticipated use of approximately 30 million passengers per year when it first comes online, it is estimated that the APM will result in 117,000 fewer vehicle miles traveled per day.
In addition to reducing traffic, the APM will leverage cutting-edge sustainability practices to reduce the airport area’s carbon footprint. The system’s fleet will consist of 44 cars that are fully electric, 98% recyclable and generate a portion of their own power through regenerative braking, while providing an industry-leading ride quality for users. The command center and maintenance facility generate nearly half of its power from solar energy and is designed to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certified.
Services Provided
CPM Partners provided CPM Scheduling, claims avoidance and resolution services.
Owner: LAWA
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $ TBD
Dates: January 2021 – Ongoing