LAWA IN MIDST OF ACTIONS TO IMPROVE LAX-IT OPERATIONS

10/31/2019 12:00 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 31, 2019

Contact:
LAX Public Relations
(424) 646-5260

LAWA IN MIDST OF ACTIONS TO IMPROVE LAX-IT OPERATIONS

(Los Angeles, CA) LAX-it has now been open for more than two full days. During this time, the lot has experienced periods of efficient operations as well as challenges during peak operations. A series of adjustments are being implemented to improve our shuttle operations and driver/customer connections. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) continues to work day and night with our partners to create a better experience at LAX-it.

 

Since the opening of LAX-it, airport officials have been actively assessing and responding to traffic and behavioral changes in a dynamic environment at LAX-it, in the Central Terminal Area (CTA), and in surrounding communities. While 31,783 vehicles have been removed from the CTA and record travel times are taking place, the peak periods of arriving passengers typically between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. have resulted in shuttle and passenger wait times exceeding 45 minutes.

Changes that have been made since LAX-it opened include: 

  • Improved and additional signage throughout the Central Terminal Area, roadways and in the LAX-it lot;
  • Lane striping alterations to Little Century Boulevard and roadway markings into the LAX-it lot on Sky Way;
  • Changes to traffic patterns to aid vehicle flow in the Central Terminal Area;
  • Redeployment of traffic officers to choke points;
  • Additional training of bus operators to provide better safety in the inner lanes and at crosswalks, as well as ensuring they know their routes;
  • Adjustment to LAX staffing levels and timing at the LAX curb and LAX-it lot;
  • Additional communication to ride app users to familiarize them with the first-come, first-served technology;
  • Ride app companies are working more closely with drivers to train on the new pin/fast-match process for connecting with riders. They have deployed additional staff and their teams are working through issues with confusion on how the new PIN and Fast Match systems work. 

As a result, we saw improvements to shuttle operations on Wednesday evening compared with Tuesday evening. However, even with these additional improvements, during the peak hours last night, between 8 p.m. and midnight, some guests still experienced excessive wait times at LAX-it, exceeding 45 minutes at its peak, for some ride app users.

 

LAWA expects to implement further adjustments during this first week of operations including the following today:

  • Trialing roadway shifts to relieve bottlenecks;
  • Bolder signage at the bus stops for drivers and passengers to better identify the stop locations;
  • Adding and redeploying staff to assist with LAX-it guests at the curb and at LAX-it;
  • Additional informational signage and messaging within the terminals;
  • Additional wayfinding signage at LAX-it;
  • Adding video messages to LAX-it shuttles to inform guests about how to use LAX-it upon arrival;
  • Activating the Airport Response Team to provide additional staff at key locations to assist guests;
  • Adding 15-second extensions to traffic lights on Century Blvd. and Avion Drive.

Additional improvements are planned with focus on the upcoming peak travel days of Friday and Sunday. LAWA asks the public for patience, and reminds them that this is necessary to alleviate construction impacts. LAWA advises the public to plan for additional time for ride apps and taxis during peak hours of 7-10 p.m.

 

LAX-it Shuttle Buses: Shuttle service has vastly improved since the first evening. On Wednesday, LAX-it shuttles moved quickly through the CTA, with buses maintaining headways of less than five minutes and taking an average of 12 minutes from a shuttle stop to the lot. On the first evening, significant issues occurred with the busing program, creating delays, full buses and long waits. Last night, LAWA made changes to traffic patterns in order to address those delays and improve shuttle circulation. As a result, the buses ran much more smoothly, although some guests during peak periods still experienced long waits at the curbs. Airport officials are actively working to address the main choke points that occurred last evening and to improve signage and other shuttle operations. 
 

LAX-it Lot Conditions: Yesterday, from morning until late afternoon, wait times at LAX-it were under 15 minutes for all modes of transportation. During the evening peak period (7-10 p.m.), we are saw large fluctuations in wait times between different modes. Airport officials are working closely with our taxi and ride app partners to address issues as we together implement technology and access solutions for drivers.  During peak time, guests may experience a wait exceeding 45 minutes, but many guests were connecting with their rides last evening within 15 minutes. Ride app riders are also advised that ride apps have made some changes to the process of matching with their driver at LAX-it and they should consult the apps and follow signage at the lot for more instructions.

 

LAX-it was opened to help mitigate the impacts that major construction will have on traffic within the CTA as Los Angeles World Airports begins construction on numerous projects to transform the airport, including an Automated People Mover train opening in 2023. By moving taxis and ride app services to LAX-it, guests who are driving through the CTA are experiencing a much improved experience. Los Angeles World Airports remains committed to continuing to improve the operations of LAX-it and solve for the issues that we are tracking and hearing about from our guests.

 

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.  


LAX generated 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 was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named  a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. 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.   


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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