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LAX’s People Mover Train Is Getting An Extra $200M To Keep It On Track
A rendering of the finished automated people mover passing Theme Building at LAX.
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Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports
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LAX’s Automated People Mover train is getting an injection of cash, bringing its budget to a whopping $2.9 billion.
The Board of Airport Commissioners unanimously approved an additional $200 million on Thursday.
What will the money be used for?
The funds are expected to settle a variety of disputed claims brought by the project’s contractor, LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS). The money comes from the LAX Revenue Fund, which is where all the airport’s fees, charges and other sources of revenue go.
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The claims include disagreements over the project’s timeline, technology access and compensation, as LAist reported. The situation prompted a major bond rating agency to describe LAWA and LINXS’s relationship as “strained.”
It’s not clear yet which claims the funds could resolve, but the May board report stated it would be used toward a potential settlement.
“Recent discussions have turned toward negotiating a potential global settlement for all outstanding relief event claims and an appropriate extension of time to complete the project,” according to the report.
A LAWA representative told LAist in a statement they are continuing “active discussions” with the contractor to address outstanding claims.
OK, but when is it opening?
That’s the million-dollar question.
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According to the board report, the two parties are still negotiating “in good faith,” but it doesn’t specify over what.
LINXS deferred our timeline questions to LAWA. The spokesperson did not share whether LAWA has agreed to a new timeline yet.
“The outcomes of these discussions will be provided as they become available,” the statement read.
In 2018, when the L.A. City Council first approved the $4.9 billion deal, the train was supposed to open in 2023. Now it’s looking like the train may not open until the end of 2025.
LINXS’s monthly reports shed some light. Its April 15 report listed a new passenger service availability of December 2025. Depending on how negotiations go, it could end up sooner or even later.
The Automated People Mover is more than 96% complete, according to the bond rating agency that’s accessing the project financials.
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