LAX’S “SMART TRAVELER” PROGRAM STRESSES HOLIDAY GETAWAY TIPS

(Los Angeles, CA – December 18, 2000) An increasing number of travelers this holiday season will continue Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX’s) year-long, record-breaking passenger levels. Airport officials are stepping up their successful "Smart Traveler" Program, which is designed to increase holiday travelers’ awareness of alternative transportation to and from LAX, use of its two long-term parking lots, and numerous traffic improvement measures.

"The Christmas to New Year’s holiday period is an especially busy time at LAX," said Michael DiGirolamo, deputy executive director of operations for Los Angeles World Airports. "Our passenger traffic is up 5.4 percent over 1999, and we expect 2 million passengers to pass through LAX from now through New Year’s. Airlines serving LAX are reporting that we can expect over 177,000 passengers daily from December 23 through January 2."

All these passengers will bring heavier vehicular traffic of upwards of 100,000 vehicles daily in and around LAX.

Getting To/From LAX

In addition to reminding holiday travelers to arrive at LAX two hours in advance of a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight, LAX officials also are reminding travelers that if they leave their cars at home, they will not have to fight busy freeway traffic or go through the stressful process of locating an open parking space at the airport.

DiGirolamo said, "This holiday season we want travelers to try a door-to-door shuttle van, airporter bus, taxi, limo or the Metro Green Line to get to LAX. Besides reducing stress, you may even save yourself time, energy, and money."

New $24 Daily Parking Rate in Central Terminal Area

Airport officials are reminding the traveling public about the new $24 daily rate in Central Terminal Area parking structures and the designation of two-hour parking limits on the first and third levels of most parking structures. Parking Structures 1 and 7 are an exception, with only the first levels designated for two-hour parking.

"We are providing more short-term parking for those picking up and dropping off passengers at the terminals and encouraging more long-term parking users to use our low cost Lots B and C," DiGirolamo said.

These two measures, taken earlier this year, have reduced peak traffic congestion on terminal roadways, and officials believe they will have the same effect this holiday season.

One Day Free Parking, Food Discounts at Airport Outlets

The best chance for holiday parking at the airport is at LAX’s Lot B at 111th Street and LaCienega Boulevard and at Lot C at 96th Street and Sepulveda Boulevard. The rates are $5 per day at Lot B and $7 per day at Lot C. These large lots have thousands of spaces and a free LAX shuttle bus every 10-12 minutes to and from the passenger terminals.

Parking at Lot B this holiday is especially attractive because of a discount offer for airport parking and food to the first 1,000 users on Friday, December 22. Beginning at 5:30 a.m., airport employees will hand out coupons good for a limited time for one day free parking at Lot B and discounts for food and beverages at selected airport food/beverage concessions and restaurants. Food concessionaire HMS Host is participating in LAX’s "Smart Traveler" promotion.

Traffic Congestion Improvements

DiGirolamo reported that recent measures, costing tens of millions of dollars, have been undertaken to improve traffic conditions at LAX:

• Consolidating door-to-door shuttle van services, which eliminated nearly a thousand vehicle circuits daily on the terminal area roadways.
• Increasing the number of short-term parking spaces in the Central Terminal Area so drivers do not circle the roadways looking for a space or clog the terminal curbsides.
• Opening a new parking structure at Terminal 6 with 1,000 additional spaces.
• Hiring nearly 100 additional traffic officers to manage and direct traffic, as well as enforce curbside parking restrictions.

Further traffic improvement measures, he said, are expected to be in place in the coming months:

• Mandatory reduction in number of times rental car, hotel, and off-airport parking courtesy vehicles can circle the Central Terminal Area.
• Improved traffic signage

• New transportation operations facility with a state-of-the-art "intelligent transportation" traffic signal system to help monitor and locally control traffic.

• Visitors will be able to monitor parking and traffic conditions in real time via the airport’s web site at www.lawa.org.

• Permanent electronic message signs on access roads and throughout the Central Terminal Area that will provide information and reroute traffic.
• Expanding the popular Van Nuys FlyAway and building other FlyAway stations throughout Los Angeles County (feasible study is underway).

Using the LAX Website

LAX holiday travelers can use the airport’s web site www.lawa.org to plan their trip. The web site offers access to valuable information about alternative transportation options, parking, passenger services, terminal locations, airlines and flight schedules, baggage storage, airport news and a map of LAX airport.