LOS ANGELES AIRPORT TO EXPAND FLYAWAY BUS SYSTEM TO UNION STATION TO INCREASE CONVENIENCE, EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION
(Los Angeles, California -- January 23, 2006) The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners today approved a three-year-agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to establish direct-to-airport bus service from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The action permits Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) to start airport bus service in mid-March and is part of LAWA’s ground transportation initiatives to expand its FlyAway bus system in order to improve passenger convenience and reduce traffic congestion.
Under a Right of Entry and Hold Harmless Agreement, the MTA would allow LAWA to use Union Station’s Patsaouras Transit Plaza, provide parking for 500 vehicles at the Gateway Parking Garage, and allow the operation of an information and ticket sale kiosk. Unlike public buses, FlyAway buses are designed with luggage bays. Porter service would be available to riders.
The buses are expected to depart Union Station on a regular schedule to travel non-stop to the LAX Central Terminal Area to drop-off and pick up passengers in front of each of the airport’s nine airline terminals. Airport officials said buses will run in both directions every 30 minutes between the hours of 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. and every hour from 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Airport officials said the non-stop transportation service is designed to reduce vehicle traffic congestion and vehicle emissions in the region by encouraging high-occupancy vehicle ridership. Expansion of the bus service is a requirement of the LAX Master Plan Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and one of the conditions of the recent settlement of lawsuits filed against the LAX Master Plan.
As an inter-modal transit center, Union Station is unique and provides a needed link to LAX for a large population of transit ridership that would not otherwise be available if the FlyAway site were located elsewhere. Union Station provides direct access to the Red and Gold Metro Rail Lines, Metrolink, Amtrak, DASH, and local and regional buses.
LAWA began operating the FlyAway service from Van Nuys Airport in 1975, and it has served over 18 million riders and saved 396 million vehicle miles traveled since its inception. The newest location is part of a plan that would add eight new locations around Southern California to the FlyAway system by 2015. Also for the future, LAWA plans to add FlyAway service to its other commercial facilities at Ontario International and Palmdale Regional Airports.
Fares for the Union Station-to-LAX route are expected to match those for the Van Nuys FlyAway. The VNY FlyAway currently charges $6 for adult round-trip fares or $3.50 one way. Fares for children ages 2 to 12 years are currently $1.75 each way, and free for children under 2 years. The parking rate at Union Station will be $6 per day. At the Van Nuys FlyAway, parking is $4 per day.
The agreement is scheduled for consideration by the MTA Board of Directors Jan. 26.
