LAX TO RE-OPEN CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA ROADWAYS AND PARKING STRUCTURES TO PRIVATE VEHICLES

(Los Angeles, California -- October 19, 2001) Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn and Los Angeles World Airports officials today announced plans to re-open at 5:00 am on Saturday, October 20, Los Angeles International Airport's (LAX's) Central Terminal Area roadways and parking structures to private vehicles under new security measures. All private vehicles entering the Central Terminal Area roadways will be required to park in the parking structures. No curbside drop-off or pick-up of passengers by private vehicles -- including those with disabled placards or license plates -- will be allowed. This measure is being taken to minimize the risk of unattended vehicles at the curbside and to facilitate access by emergency vehicles when necessary.

In addition, all vehicles entering the Central Terminal Area (CTA) will be subject to random search.

The terminal area and parking structures have been closed to private vehicles since the airport was re-opened September 13, 2001, following the terrorist attacks that closed the nation's aviation system.

Mayor Hahn said, "This new traffic plan attempts to balance the needs of ensuring aviation security and the personal safety of everyone at LAX, while minimizing inconvenience to passengers. While this new traffic plan does not resemble the Central Terminal Area operations before the terrorist attacks, it does return us to some level of normalcy so that airport businesses can begin to rehire impacted workers."

LAWA Executive Director Lydia H. Kennard approved the plan to re-open the CTA to private vehicles after receiving a security briefing from Airport Police Chief Bernard J. Wilson and other local and federal officials. The Board on September 25 had determined that security measures imposed at LAX beginning September 13 were "necessary and prudent" in light of the terrorist attacks on the East Coast and asked the airport staff to provide alternatives for reopening the Central Terminal Area to private vehicles.

"We are pleased to announce plans to re-open the Central Terminal Area to private vehicles under measures that conform with the latest Federal Aviation Administration security directives," said Kennard. "This decision is consistent with the Board's commitment to making LAX safe and secure, while also encouraging air travel."

Effective 5:00 am on Saturday, October 20, three of the four entryways into the Central Terminal Area used by the general public before September 11 will be accessible by private vehicles: (1) westbound Century Boulevard, (2) southbound Sepulveda Boulevard at Century Boulevard, and (3) northbound Sepulveda Boulevard north of the Sepulveda Tunnel. The fourth entryway over the 96th Street bridge will remain closed for use only by commercial, permitted ground transportation providers.

ARRIVING PASSENGERS: On the Lower/Arrival Level, the lanes nearest the parking structures will be used by private vehicles. The remaining lanes nearest the ground transportation islands will be reserved for LAX shuttle buses; the Van Nuys FlyAway and other direct-to-airport buses; and courtesy shuttle vans and buses operated by private, off-airport parking lots, rental car agencies, and hotels. The three lanes between the ground transportation islands and the passenger terminals will be reserved for commercial, permitted ground transportation vehicles such as taxis, limousines for hire, and door-to-door shuttle vans, as well as for emergency vehicles. Meeters-and-greeters in private vehicles will be required to park in one of the parking structures. They can meet their parties in the baggage claim areas or terminal curbside.

DEPARTING PASSENGERS: On the Upper/Departure Level, the two through lanes nearest the parking structures will be reserved for private vehicles. The remaining two lanes adjacent to the passenger terminals will be reserved for commercial, permitted ground transportation vehicles. Private vehicles entering the Central Terminal Area to drop off passengers only will be required to park in a parking structure. Metered, short-term and daily parking are allowed in the parking structures.

Vehicles with disabled placards and license plates will not be allowed to pick up or drop off passengers curbside. These vehicles must park in the parking structures. The cost is free in the metered stalls found on the Lower/Arrivals Level and for the posted fee on the other levels.

Barriers will be installed to separate private vehicles from commercial vehicles. Parking Structure 6 will remain closed until a structural analysis report is presented to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Parking Structure 6, which opened July 2000, was built subsequent to a structural analysis airport officials obtained on the other parking structures in 1997.

While metered parking is available in the parking structures, all street-level parking lots in the Central Terminal Area will remain closed due to FAA security requirements.

Following are other airport parking and drop-off only facilities, which are all served by free LAX shuttle buses 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Passenger Drop Off Only -- A new facility for passengers being dropped off for departing flights ONLY is located at 9011 Airport Boulevard, north of the intersection of Airport Boulevard and Arbor Vitae/Westchester Parkway. The facility was opened on September 18 and will remain open indefinitely. No parking is allowed in or around this facility.

   

• Long-Term Parking -- Remote Parking Lots B and C are designated for long-term parking. Lot B, which was temporarily designated for short-term parking and for meeting arriving passengers is once again for long-term parking. Lot B is located at 111th Street and La Cienega Boulevard. Lot C is located at 96thStreet and Sepulveda Boulevard.

Airport officials continue to urge passengers to use commercial public transportation such as taxis, door-to-door shuttle vans, public buses, Metro Rail Green Line via Aviation Boulevard Station, Van Nuys FlyAway and other direct-to-airport buses, and limousines for hire. Passengers also are advised to use private parking lots located off-airport and to take their courtesy shuttle buses to the passenger terminals.

On a related matter, some airlines at LAX have resumed curbside baggage check-in following implementation of additional security measures required by the FAA. Passengers should contact their airlines to see if they are providing curbside check-in services.

For up-to-date information about ground transportation, parking, and general status of airport operations, please call toll free 1-888-544-9444, or visit the airport's Internet website at www.lawa.org, or tune radios to LAX's AiRadio 530AM traffic information station.

(Note to Editors: Color map illustrations are available in jpeg format. B-roll of press conference highlights and terminal area roadways with new barriers also available. For copies, request from any media relations specialist in LAX Public Relations Division at (310) 646-5260.)