- 19.04.2018
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The Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) has approved a US$4.9 billion 30-year public-private partnership (P3) contract with LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS) to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Automated People Mover (APM) system at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), located in southern California, USA.
LINXS is a fully integrated team comprised of Fluor, Balfour Beatty, ACS Infrastructure Development, Dragados USA, HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions, Flatiron, and the design team comprised of HDR and HNTB. Bombardier Transportation will provide the APM Operating System, including all vehicles. LINXS‘ proposal had the highest technical score and the lowest cost proposal of the three teams that participated in the procurement process.
On 15 February, BOAC approved LINXS as the Recommended Developer and initiated an Early Works Agreement valued at US$42 million, which started pre-construction activities such as hiring, soil testing, engineering and furthering design of the APM.
The APM will connect the airport terminals with parking facilities, hire car points and metro light rail stations. It will be built using a P3 contracting model. LINXS will design and construct the system and, following completion, operate and maintain it for a total contract term of 30 years. The US$4.9 billion contract includes milestone payments for the design and construction phases, as well as authorizes future paymentsfor operating and maintaining the APM for the contract period.
The project is intended to bring convenience and time-certainty for guest traveling to or from LAX. Driverless trains will arrive at every station every two minutes, have wide doors for easy access with luggage, large windows for viewing, plenty of hand holds and seats for those in need. LAWA anticipates that the APM will offer a maximum ridership capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour and up to 85.1 million passengers per year. The system will be operational in 2023.
The APM will reduce vehicle congestion in the terminal loop, provide a connection with L.A. Metro‘s regional transportation system, create new locations for passenger pick-up and drop-off, reduce emissions and provide reliable access to the terminals.
The project is the centerpiece of the Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP), which also includes a Consolidated Rent-a-Car (ConRAC) facility, Intermodal Transportation Facility, and associated roadway improvements.
On 11 April, Los Angeles City Council will consider the contract at their regularly scheduled meeting. Their approval is necessary for the project to proceed to commercial and financial close.