LAX Skyline Continues its Transformation as Automated People Mover Guideway Now Spans Century Boulevard

Flatiron is proud to be part of the team creating the Automated People Mover at Los Angeles International Airport. Another important step in this innovative project has been achieved. This news release was issued by the project owner,

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). Don’t miss the incredible time-lapse video provided with this release.(Los Angeles, CA) Work to construct the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Automated People Mover (APM) train guideway superstructure over Century Boulevard is now complete, further transforming the airport’s skyline as its modernization continues.

“The Automated People Mover system is coming to life before our eyes, and the sight of the nearly completed guideway helps Angelenos and our guests visualize just how this system will help transform LAX,” said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports. “Over the course of four months, the guideway section over Century was safely constructed above one of busiest streets in the city with minimal disruptions to traffic below. We congratulate our project team for reaching this milestone and eagerly anticipate completing the full guideway superstructure next year.”

Construction crews completed the last pour in the early morning hours of Dec. 16 above Century Boulevard, marking the end of a four-month process to connect the north and south ends of the guideway. This milestone was achieved using an innovative cast-in-place segmental construction technique.

Segmental construction refers to a method of bridge construction in which the guideway is built in short segments, one piece at a time. This method used a cast-in-place technique and a traveling form system, which served as the platform upon which concrete was placed in formwork. This process is distinct from similar segmental construction methods that use precast segments that are lifted into place. This span of guideway over Century Boulevard required the construction of 13 segments, each approximately 15 feet in length.

In addition to the guideway segment spanning Century Boulevard, cast-in-place segmental construction is being used to construct the remaining sections of guideway at two additional locations. In November, work began on a 250-foot long section of spanning Parking Structure 2B inside the Central Terminal Area (CTA). Additionally, work will begin on the segment spanning east to west over Sepulveda Boulevard in the new year.

“Building the APM has required that we employ innovative and creative solutions to a number of logistical challenges, making it a truly exciting project to work on,” said Laura Ware, Spokesperson for LINXS Constructors. “Using cast-in-place segmental construction is a perfect example; while it is an uncommon technique, it was determined to be the best solution when traffic conditions and space constraints on material staging were considered.”

Click here to view an educational video on cast-in-place segmental construction.

The centerpiece of LAX’s Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP), the APM is a 2.25-mile electric train system that will transport travelers into and out of the CTA, connecting them to new off-site parking facilities, regional light rail transportation and the Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) facility. The APM project is a critical investment into the infrastructure of Los Angeles as the city prepares to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The APM will feature six stations: three stations inside the CTA that will connect to the terminals via elevated pedestrian walkways, and three stations outside the CTA that will connect to LAX’s new Economy Parking, regional light rail transportation and the ConRAC facility. The APM is expected to relieve congestion within the CTA and in turn the surrounding thoroughfares, thereby reducing emissions and vehicle miles traveled.

To learn more about LAX’s modernization, visit FlyLAX.com/ConnectingLAX.

For high-resolution images of the segment over Century Boulevard, click here.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX, the third-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States in 2019, is in the midst of a $14.5-billion capital improvement program that will touch on all nine passenger terminals and build new facilities, including an Automated People Mover (APM) train, Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) facility and a 12- to 15-gate Bradley West Gates addition to the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

In 2019, LAX served nearly 88.1 million passengers and offered an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 113 destinations in the U.S. and 1,200 weekly nonstop flights to 91 markets in 46 countries on 72 commercial airlines.

LAX generates 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. 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 (LAWA), a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.

LAWA is leading the aviation industry in sustainability practices, with initiatives related to water management, energy (electricity) management, air quality, recycling and natural resources management. In 2019, LAX received Level III ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation from Airport Councils International-Europe.

LAWA is also a leader in inclusivity, operating eight programs that provide opportunities for business enterprises including local, small, minority-owned, veteran-owned and disadvantaged firms, and working together with community partners to offer the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program, which targets local workers to make them ready for rewarding careers in the construction trades, and the Build LAX Academy, designed to prepare small contracting businesses for success when working on projects at LAX.

LAX was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX in 2018, and was honored as the “Most Innovative Airport for Passenger Experience” in 2019 by the American Association of Airport Executives. LAX is the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. Other recent honors have included selection as the No. 9 Best Airport (Wall Street Journal); No. 7 Best On-Time Performance for a Mega-Hub Airport (OAG); one of “The World’s Best Airports for Business Travelers” (GlobeHunters); Public-Private Partnership of the Year (P3 Bulletin); Urth Caffe, Best Airport Coffee Concession of the Year (Global FAB Awards); Innovation of the Year, Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility (ARTBA); Best Project, United Airlines Terminal 7 and 8 Redevelopment Program (Engineering News Record California); North American Public-Private Partnership Deal of the Year (IJ Global); and Innovative Transportation Solution of the Year, Automated People Mover (WTS LA).

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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