LAX MODIFES WESTBOUND CENTURY BOULEVARD ENTRY TODAY TO IMPROVE PRIVATE VEHICLE TRAFFIC ON UPPER/DEPARTURE LEVEL ROADWAY

(Los Angeles, California -- December 1, 2001) Los Angeles International Airport is modifying procedures today at its westbound Century Boulevard entryway in order to improve private vehicle traffic flow on the Upper/Departure Level roadway in the airport's Central Terminal Area. The changes take effect at 2 pm. No changes are being made to the current access procedures on the Lower/Arrival Level roadway.

ALL commercial and media vehicles accessing the terminal curbside on the Upper/Departure Level will be required to pass through the 96th Street checkpoint. The checkpoint at westbound Century Boulevard will be closed to ALL commercial and media vehicles.

In addition, the airport return road on the Upper/Departure Level east of United Airlines Terminal 7 (which is the last airport return road before exiting the Central Terminal Area) can now only be used to return to the airport on the Lower/Arrival Level. The Upper/Departure Level airport return portion has been closed.

Airport traffic managers expect today's modification to eliminate the mixing of smaller private vehicles with the larger commercial transportation vehicles on the Upper/Departure Level roadway, thereby reducing traffic congestion and the potential for accidents. Airport traffic managers and law enforcement officers at the checkpoints successfully tested the modified procedure this week and began notifying public transportation services yesterday.

With the construction of two more lanes at the 96th Street checkpoint yesterday, LAX Airport Police expect no delays with the additional commercial vehicles passing through 96th Street checkpoint.

Commercial transportation and media vehicles can reach the 96th Street checkpoint by using northbound Vicksburg onto the bridge over Sepulveda Boulevard, southbound Sepulveda Boulevard onto 96th Street, or westbound 96th Street to northbound Alverstone to westbound Davidson to southbound El Manor Avenue to the checkpoint.

Commercial transportation vehicles include taxis; door-to-door shuttle vans; courtesy vehicles for rental car agencies, hotels, and private parking lots; direct-to-airport buses; and the LAX Shuttle buses.