AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS APPROVE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR LAX LANDSIDE ACCESS MODERNIZATION PROGRAM

            (Los Angeles, California – March 2, 2017)  The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) today certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) for Los Angeles World Airports’ (LAWA’s) proposed Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and recommended that the Los Angeles City Council concur and approve the LAMP Project.

            “The Final EIR represents the culmination of years of planning by LAWA staff and extensive outreach with our neighbors, the airport community and the general public to develop a comprehensive program that will modernize LAX,” said BOAC President Sean Burton.  “We’re proud of everyone’s collective efforts, and we’re excited to enter the next phases of the LAMP Project.”

            “The Landside Access Modernization Program would provide certainty, and bring LAX into the modern era for the modern traveler - to ensure that LA is a global gateway,” said LAWA Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint.  “The board’s approval of the final LAMP EIR marks an important milestone and is affirmation that a program designed to improve access to LAX and connect to public transit, would change how our guests and neighbors interact with the airport in many positive ways.”

            Today’s meeting included a public hearing, which drew a large crowd in support of the LAMP project.  "Today the airport experience is more critical and impactful for business and vacation travel than ever before," said Joseph Czyzyk, chairman and chief executive officer of Mercury Air Group, a LAX tenant.  "From passenger experience improvements to connecting mass transit into our airport, and thereby making our roadways better - there is much to applaud with LAMP."

"Loyola Marymount University supports LAX's proposed Landside Access Modernization Program," said Andrew O'Reilly, director of community relations, Loyola Marymount University.  "As an LAX neighbor, we are impacted by and aware of airport operations, and we are confident that the proposed updates and improvements are critical to the value of the airport and surrounding areas."

"The project will strengthen the region's economic standing and promote business growth throughout Southern California," said Sarah Golden with the Valley Industry and Commerce Association. "Our local businesses rely on LAX to provide a connection to domestic and foreign markets around the world - VICA is proud to support the Landside Access Modernization Program."

LAMP would reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality for communities adjacent to LAX and would transform LAX into a modern, state-of-the-art airport servicing passengers, employees and neighbors.

LAMP consists of several primary components: an Automated People Mover (APM) system with six stations that would transport passengers between the CTA and the other main project components located east of the CTA.  These other components include a Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility (ConRAC) and two new Intermodal Transportation Facilities, which include public parking and passenger drop-off and pick-up areas.  To provide access to the Metro regional rail system, the APM system would include a station at the Intermodal Transit Facility where it interfaces with Metro’s Airport Metro Connector station at 96th Street/Aviation Boulevard.  In addition to the major components listed, LAMP would also include planned roadway improvements throughout the LAX area.

LAWA prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for LAMP in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which was released on September 15, 2016.  The official comment period for the Draft EIR ran from September 15 through November 15, 2016.  Two public meetings were held in October 2016 that allowed the public to learn about LAMP and its components, with attendees able to submit comments following presentations from LAWA staff and consultants.

For more information about the proposed LAX Landside Access Modernization Program,

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

           LAX is the seventh busiest airport in the world and second in the United States.  LAX served more than 80.9 million passengers in 2016.  LAX offers 742 daily nonstop flights to 101 cities in the U.S. and 1,280 weekly nonstop flights to 77 cities in 42 countries on 64 commercial air carriers.  LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion.  LAX handled 697,138 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2016. 

An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,610 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion.  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 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.

For more information about LAX, or follow on Twitter

@flyLAXAirport , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport , and on YouTube at

www.YouTube.com/laxairport1 .  Information about LAX’s ongoing multi-billion-dollar LAX Modernization

Program, as well as tips and shortcuts to help navigate LAX during construction, are available at

          As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles