LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS TO ESTABLISH FLYAWAY BUS SERVICE TO LOS ANGELES AND ONTARIO AIRPORTS FROM SYLMAR

(Los Angeles, California -- November 13, 2001) The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners today authorized the purchase of a 12-acre parcel of land in Sylmar to develop a new direct-to-airport bus facility to serve Los Angeles International (LAX) and Ontario International (ONT) Airports. The new facility also will serve Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) at a future time, when commercial air service at PMD resumes and market demand there grows.

The new Sylmar FlyAway terminal will be built at 13503 San Fernando Road near the Golden State (I-5) and Foothill (I-210) Freeways. The total project is slated for completion in 18 months at a cost of approximately $11.8 million. This includes land acquisition estimated at $1.6 million, general site work for $2.5 million, construction of a one-story terminal building for $1.8 million, and a 1,290-space parking lot for $5.9 million. The property is currently owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

The new Sylmar FlyAway project will expand on LAWA's popular Van Nuys FlyAway bus service to other areas of the region and will help mitigate freeway traffic congestion due to airport-bound travelers. The Board's action also follows communications from Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn to the Board stressing the need to expand the FlyAway Program from San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley to provide for bus shuttle service to ONT.

The new facility is designed to reduce future demand by 23 percent for LAX passengers at the Van Nuys FlyAway. A study commissioned by LAWA last year showed that a new Sylmar facility would shift some of the Van Nuys demand to create its own catchment area that would support Sylmar FlyAway operations. The study also showed that a Sylmar facility would be a convenient location to serve all three LAWA-owned and operated airports.

The Van Nuys FlyAway bus service currently transports about 2,400 passengers daily between the San Fernando Valley and LAX. Expansion of the Van Nuys FlyAway facility also is underway, with plans and specifications currently being developed for a new bus terminal and short- and long-term parking lots.

The Van Nuys FlyAway bus terminal is located at 7610 Woodley Ave. at Saticoy Street. Roundtrip fares are $6 for adults (ages 13 and up) and $3.50 for children (ages two through 12). Children under age two are free. For more information on the Van Nuys FlyAway, call (818) 994-5554.