CREATIVITY HELPS MOVE TRAFFIC AT LAX

CREATIVITY HELPS MOVE TRAFFIC AT LAX

Airport Looks to Master Plan for Comprehensive Future Solutions

(Los Angeles, California – December 6, 2000) Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Lydia H. Kennard reviewed the state of current transportation management systems at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and previewed plans for a comprehensive new ground access program to be implemented as part of the LAX Master Plan at a meeting of the California Transportation Commission.

In a presentation Tuesday, Kennard said the current and future programs are essential to meeting the demands that future growth in aviation services will place on the Southland’s major international gateway and on neighboring streets and freeways.

"Real long-term solutions are not possible without the kinds of major initiatives envisioned in the LAX Master Plan," she said. "But we are also taking current actions to address parking and traffic and we have found some creative ways to improve our transportation management systems."

Among the most far-reaching initiatives currently underway is the LAX Traffic Operations Center, which will pilot the airport’s Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and coordinate traffic management decisions with other local transportation agencies to keep traffic moving. Components of this system include automated traffic detectors to capture and communicate real- time traffic information; closed-circuit television monitors to allow traffic controllers to verify traffic conditions; the ability to control traffic signals based on actual traffic demands; and enhanced capability to implement traffic management strategies as needs dictate.

Another major initiative is an expanded remote terminal program. Based on the success of the Van Nuys FlyAway -- which currently shuttles more than 700,000 passengers annually in an average 100 daily trips covering 2,900 miles -- call for plans linking LAX with other strategic locations in Southern California.

"This is an affordable, convenient, reliable alternative to taking your car to LAX," said Kennard, "and we plan to add remote flight and baggage check-in by Spring 2001."

In other steps to ease traffic congestion inside the airport’s Central Terminal Area, Kennard said airport officials have:

• Increased the number of short-term parking spaces in the Central Terminal Area and raised long-term parking rates to encourage the use of remote parking;
• Improved airport signage and roadway striping to facilitate access to south side terminals and exits;

• Added electronic changeable message signs;
• Developed a priority usage system for commercial vehicles and reduced the number of door-to-door vans allowed to operate in the Central Terminal Area at any one time, and
• Increased traffic officers to aid traffic flow at curbside and critical roadway points.

"Taken together," Kennard told the Transportation Commission, "these measures will help ease he flow of traffic at LAX. But when we look to the future, we know they are, in reality, only ‘Band-Aids.’ For the long-term, we need a much more aggressive, comprehensive program."

Outlining the parts of the Recommended LAX Master Plan that address ground access, Kennard highlighted future transportation plans designed to maximize access to regional transportation systems, to connect to mass transit, and to ease the impact of airport-related traffic on local neighborhoods. Among those plans are:

• An LAX Expressway to provide direct access from the San Diego Freeway (405) and drain traffic from one of Los Angeles’ busiest freeway sections;
• Extension of the Century Freeway (105) to the airport;

• A new airport Ring Road to skirt the airport’s existing Central Terminal Area and move vehicles efficiently to a new western terminal and parking;

• A People Mover system to move passengers between terminals and to consolidated rental car areas;

• Extension of the Green Line into the airport, and
• Local street improvements including new turn lanes and other measures to speed access into LAX.

Kennard also emphasized the need for other airports in the region to take on a share of future passenger traffic and said, for its part, LAWA is making substantial investments at its Ontario and Palmdale airports.

At Ontario International Airport, the agency has recently completed a $260-million upgrade — the first major airport infrastructure investment in the region in a decade. Plans to restart commercial service at Palmdale Regional Airport are underway.

"It is perhaps less obvious," said Kennard, "but making sure we are utilizing all of our airports to their fullest potential and developing new airports in the region to help handle future growth is as important to relieving traffic congestion at LAX as any other steps we can take."

A draft EIR/EIS on the LAX Master Plan will be released shortly.

Kennard commended the California Transportation Commission for its recommendations to the state Legislature that include:

State support for a dedicated source of funds for airport-related ground access improvements;

• Support for more flexible use of so-called Passenger Facility Charges, a tax on each airline ticket, for airport-related ground access improvements; and
• An increased role by the state in supporting ground access improvements at the state’s international airports.

(BR 12/6/00)

CREATIVITY HELPS MOVE TRAFFIC AT LAX

CREATIVITY HELPS MOVE TRAFFIC AT LAX

Airport Looks to Master Plan for Comprehensive Future Solutions

(Los Angeles, California – December 6, 2000) Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Lydia H. Kennard reviewed the state of current transportation management systems at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and previewed plans for a comprehensive new ground access program to be implemented as part of the LAX Master Plan at a meeting of the California Transportation Commission.

In a presentation Tuesday, Kennard said the current and future programs are essential to meeting the demands that future growth in aviation services will place on the Southland’s major international gateway and on neighboring streets and freeways.

"Real long-term solutions are not possible without the kinds of major initiatives envisioned in the LAX Master Plan," she said. "But we are also taking current actions to address parking and traffic and we have found some creative ways to improve our transportation management systems."

Among the most far-reaching initiatives currently underway is the LAX Traffic Operations Center, which will pilot the airport’s Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and coordinate traffic management decisions with other local transportation agencies to keep traffic moving. Components of this system include automated traffic detectors to capture and communicate real- time traffic information; closed-circuit television monitors to allow traffic controllers to verify traffic conditions; the ability to control traffic signals based on actual traffic demands; and enhanced capability to implement traffic management strategies as needs dictate.

Another major initiative is an expanded remote terminal program. Based on the success of the Van Nuys FlyAway -- which currently shuttles more than 700,000 passengers annually in an average 100 daily trips covering 2,900 miles -- call for plans linking LAX with other strategic locations in Southern California.

"This is an affordable, convenient, reliable alternative to taking your car to LAX," said Kennard, "and we plan to add remote flight and baggage check-in by Spring 2001."

In other steps to ease traffic congestion inside the airport’s Central Terminal Area, Kennard said airport officials have:

• Increased the number of short-term parking spaces in the Central Terminal Area and raised long-term parking rates to encourage the use of remote parking;
• Improved airport signage and roadway striping to facilitate access to south side terminals and exits;

• Added electronic changeable message signs;
• Developed a priority usage system for commercial vehicles and reduced the number of door-to-door vans allowed to operate in the Central Terminal Area at any one time, and
• Increased traffic officers to aid traffic flow at curbside and critical roadway points.

"Taken together," Kennard told the Transportation Commission, "these measures will help ease he flow of traffic at LAX. But when we look to the future, we know they are, in reality, only ‘Band-Aids.’ For the long-term, we need a much more aggressive, comprehensive program."

Outlining the parts of the Recommended LAX Master Plan that address ground access, Kennard highlighted future transportation plans designed to maximize access to regional transportation systems, to connect to mass transit, and to ease the impact of airport-related traffic on local neighborhoods. Among those plans are:

• An LAX Expressway to provide direct access from the San Diego Freeway (405) and drain traffic from one of Los Angeles’ busiest freeway sections;
• Extension of the Century Freeway (105) to the airport;

• A new airport Ring Road to skirt the airport’s existing Central Terminal Area and move vehicles efficiently to a new western terminal and parking;

• A People Mover system to move passengers between terminals and to consolidated rental car areas;

• Extension of the Green Line into the airport, and
• Local street improvements including new turn lanes and other measures to speed access into LAX.

Kennard also emphasized the need for other airports in the region to take on a share of future passenger traffic and said, for its part, LAWA is making substantial investments at its Ontario and Palmdale airports.

At Ontario International Airport, the agency has recently completed a $260-million upgrade — the first major airport infrastructure investment in the region in a decade. Plans to restart commercial service at Palmdale Regional Airport are underway.

"It is perhaps less obvious," said Kennard, "but making sure we are utilizing all of our airports to their fullest potential and developing new airports in the region to help handle future growth is as important to relieving traffic congestion at LAX as any other steps we can take."

A draft EIR/EIS on the LAX Master Plan will be released shortly.

Kennard commended the California Transportation Commission for its recommendations to the state Legislature that include:

State support for a dedicated source of funds for airport-related ground access improvements;

• Support for more flexible use of so-called Passenger Facility Charges, a tax on each airline ticket, for airport-related ground access improvements; and
• An increased role by the state in supporting ground access improvements at the state’s international airports.

(BR 12/6/00)