LOS ANGELES CITY PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF PLAN AMENDMENTS FOR LAX LANDSIDE ACCESS MODERNIZATION PROGRAM

(Los Angeles, California – March 23, 2017)  The Los Angeles City Planning Commission (CPC) today recommended the City Council approve zone change requests and amendments to various municipal planning documents in conjunction with the use and development of Los Angeles World Airports’ (LAWA’s) proposed Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). These recommendations were made during a special joint meeting of the CPC with the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC).

"Planning for communities in Los Angeles means giving careful consideration to projects which address essential quality-of-life and environmental challenges," said David Ambroz, president of the LA City Planning Commission.  "LAWA has approached the plan in such a comprehensive way. My fellow commissioners and I fully support LAMP, a sustainable transportation system that offers safe and efficient options, while balancing the needs of the airports surrounding communities.”

            “This is a momentous time for the city and LAX, and we are appreciative our City Planning Commission colleagues’ support and approve these plan amendments,” said BOAC President Sean Burton.  “The proposed $5.5 billion LAMP Project would be a major element of LAWA’s $14.4 billion Capital Improvement Program, and would be central to transforming LAX into a world-class airport.”

            “This is a visionary 21st century plan, and I appreciate the LAWA and planning commission staff for their great work,” said Commissioner John Mack.  “We are on the right track, we're moving in the right direction to make LAX a world-class airport.”

            “The recommendations made today by City Planning Commission are an important step in the process,” said LAWA Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint.  “In addition to revolutionizing transportation to and from LAX, the LAMP project will provide numerous economic opportunities, reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality for communities adjacent to LAX.  It will transform LAX into a modern, state-of-the-art airport servicing passengers, employees and neighbors.”   

Amendments were approved for four separate plans: the LAX Plan, the Westchester-

Playa del Rey Community Plan, Mobility Plan 2035, and the LAX Specific Plan.  The amendments also included zone changes to various properties located within the various plans.

Collectively, these amendments permit the construction of LAMP’s several primary components, which include: an Automated People Mover (APM) system with six stations that would transport passengers between the CTA and the other main project components located east of the CTA; a Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility (ConRAC); and two new Intermodal Transportation Facilities, which include public parking and passenger drop-off and pick-up areas.  LAMP would also include planned roadway improvements throughout the LAX area.

To provide access to the Metro regional rail system, the APM system would incorporate a station at the Intermodal Transit Facility where it interfaces with Metro’s Airport Metro Connector station at 96th Street/Aviation Boulevard. 

The BOAC certified LAMP’s Final EIR during its previous meeting on March 2 following public comment.  Prior to the Final EIR, LAWA prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for LAMP in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which was released on September 15, 2016.  The official comment period for the Draft EIR ran from September 15 through November 15, 2016.  Two public meetings were held in October 2016 that allowed the public to learn about LAMP and its components, with attendees able to submit comments following presentations from LAWA staff and consultants.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)  

LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named Skytrax’ 2017 Top 10 Most Improved Airports.  LAX served more than 80.9 million passengers in 2016.  LAX offers 742 daily nonstop flights to 101 cities in the U.S. and 1,280 weekly nonstop flights to 77 cities in 42 countries on 64 commercial air carriers.  LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion.  LAX handled 697,138 operations (landings

and takeoffs) in 2016. 

An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,610 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion.  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 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.

For more information about LAX or follow on Twitter @flyLAXAirport, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport, and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1.  Information about LAX’s ongoing multi-billion-dollar LAX Modernization Program, as well as tips and shortcuts to help navigate LAX during construction