|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 28, 2019
CONTACT:
LAWA PR Division
(424) 646-5260 |
|
|
|
LAX-it TAXI AND RIDE APP PICKUP LOT TO OPEN TUESDAY MORNING WITH NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN
ON LOWER LEVEL AND SHUTTLE LOCATION CHANGES |
|
|
Tuesday morning's opening of LAX-it (above) will also include changes in the Lower/Arrivals Level traffic pattern designed to create dedicated lanes for LAWA shuttles and FlyAway buses. |
|
|
(Los Angeles, CA) On Tuesday morning at 3 a.m., Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) will open LAX-it, a convenient, amenity-rich, centralized area for guests to pick up a taxi or ride app service that will help reduce the number of vehicles in the Central Terminal Area (CTA) and help free up scarce curb space during major construction at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
LAX-it, which reimagines the pickup process for taxis, Uber, Lyft and Opoli, will only be for pickups, as ride app and taxi drivers will continue to drop off passengers at the terminal curbs on the Upper/Departures Level.
“Construction of the Automated People Mover train and stations is beginning in the Central Terminal Area and LAX-it is needed to relieve the pressure of construction impacts that would make traffic unbearable if nothing were done,” said Keith Wilschetz, Deputy Executive Director for Operations and Emergency Management, LAWA. “The dedicated shuttle lane and clear walking paths mean guests will arrive at LAX-it and get on their way quickly and efficiently, and all other drivers using the terminal-area roads will benefit from the reduced vehicle traffic.”
LAX-it Pickup and Drop-off Locations:
Arriving airport guests will no long have to go upstairs to find their ride app driver. LAX-it is located on the Lower/Arrivals Level just east of Terminal 1, at the corner of World Way and Sky Way, and is accessible by either a short walk from many terminals or via a dedicated shuttle from seven designated locations in the CTA.
The LAX-it shuttles will operate in a dedicated lane on the Lower/Arrivals Level where they will not compete with other airport traffic and will take guests from any terminal to the new pickup area. Shuttles will come every three to five minutes during peak hours. Shuttle routes are either nonstop, or will stop only one additional time after guests board before heading to LAX-it. Staff will be stationed at each stop to assist guests.
The new shuttles and LAX-it are designed with people with disabilities in mind and go beyond regulatory compliance to be ADA-friendly. Additionally, crosswalks at the pickup lot are built at grade, restrooms allow for easy access without ramps and an adult-changing station is available on site. For more information on accessibility, click here.
Changes to Personal Vehicle and Commercial Shuttle Pickup and Drop-Off:
To accommodate the new dedicated bus lane, the traffic pattern on the Lower/Arrivals Level will change simultaneously with the LAX-it opening at 3 a.m. on Tuesday. Private vehicles will no longer have access to the inner lanes, which will be reserved for LAWA-operated shuttles and FlyAway buses. New passenger pickup areas are being designated along the Lower Level outer commercial island, and include number/level combinations on the columns to assist motorists in locating guests.
|
|
|
Amenities:
While LAX-it is designed for a quick get-away, it also includes a number of amenities to assist guests on their way out of the airport. Restrooms will be available along with benches, umbrellas for sun and rain protection, and local food trucks. LAX-it offers improved connectivity, with cellphone charging stations and free public Wi-Fi.
Staff Assistance:
LAX staff will be available at each shuttle stop to help with wayfinding, questions, luggage loading and assistance for guests with disabilities. More than 20 staff will be on hand from 5 a.m. to midnight, with iCARE Crew and GEMS (Guest Experience Members) at the curb and in the terminals. An additional 20-plus dedicated professional staff at LAX-it will provide passenger assistance and lane management on site.
What Else is Changing?
The new dedicated bus lane will be the most visible change, as private vehicles will no longer have access to the inner lanes on the Lower Level, eliminating nearly all of the entry/exit ramps throughout the CTA. In addition to the LAX-it shuttle, the new lane will be used by other LAWA operated services, including the Airline Connector, Lot E, Green Line and Employee Lot/City Bus Center shuttles, and FlyAway buses.
Private-vehicle passenger pickup will take place in designated areas next to the outer commercial island. Transportation Charter Party (TCP) vehicles, including limos, Uber Black and Lyft Lux Black, will pick up in those same areas. Shared-ride vans and charter/scheduled buses will also have designated zones on the outer island, along with rental car shuttles.
Hotel and private parking shuttles will be relocated to the Upper Level for both pickups and drop-offs.
Here is a complete list of the changes as of Oct. 29: |
|
|
The new traffic pattern that starts Tuesday on the Lower/Arrivals Level will create dedicated bus lanes. |
|
|
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.
LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. 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 was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. 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.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request. |
|
|
| |
|
|
 | | |
|  |
|
|
|
|
