AIRPORT OFFICIALS REMIND PASSENGERS OF I-405 FREEWAY CLOSURE THIS WEEKEND; TRAVEL TIPS OFFERED FOR AVOIDING POSSIBLE TRAFFIC CONGESTION
All LAX FlyAway® Bus Routes to Operate on Regular Schedules
Airport officials are reminding air travelers and motorists driving to or from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) of this weekend’s closure of Interstate 405 through the Sepulveda Pass. Travelers are advised to plan ahead, and, if possible, avoid driving altogether by taking public transportation. Officials also announced that the LAX FlyAway® service at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, at Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley, and at Westwood/UCLA will all operate on their regular schedules to the greatest extent possible.
Potential impacts to airport operations; advice and travel tips for passengers and airport workers; various modes of commercial and public transportation available to/from LAX; airport-area hotels offering “park-sleep-fly”packages for passengers with early morning flights; and several suggestions for what to do in and around LAX if passengers have a long wait before departure.
LAX officials encourage passengers to contribute to the region-wide effort to avoid driving this weekend – especially around the impacted Sepulveda Pass area – by “Riding the Rails” to Union Station and connecting to the FlyAway® bus. Using rail – Metro Rail, Metrolink and Amtrak – is the most reliable mode of transportation when traffic conditions are uncertain. Metro Rail and Metrolink have announced they will add more trains and weekend service, respectively. For information on service locations, schedules and fares visit the following websites:
General advice to passengers includes:
o Arive at airline terminals two hours before a U.S. flight and three hours before an international flight. Airline flights are expected to operate normally during the weekend.
o Before setting out for the airport, monitor real-time traffic conditions posted on any Internet websites and social media sites, as well as aired on many local television and radio news stations.
LAX officials estimate 172,000 arriving and departing passengers each day this weekend, of which one-fourth (or 43,000) each day will be international passengers. Approximately 66,000 vehicles are also expected to use LAX roadways each day. An additional 20,000 daily airport-wide employees are scheduled to work. Los Angeles World Airports (that owns and operates LAX), many airlines, concessionaires, federal agencies, and other airport tenants have plans in place to ensure shifts are staffed appropriately so delays due to lack of personnel are minimized.
