The Automated People Mover (APM) train system project at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) reached a remarkable milestone this week with Los Angeles City Council’s unanimous approval of a $4.9 billion agreement with LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS).
With City Council’s approval in hand, the City, acting through the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC), and LINXS reached commercial close on April 11th, signing the project agreement. LINXS will now proceed to obtain private financing for the project, and financial close is expected in mid-June.
The agreement provides that LINXS (Developer) will design, build and partially finance the APM system, and then operate and maintain the APM system over a 25 year period. LAWA will make milestone payments to LINXS during construction. Once the APM system is available for passenger service, LAWA will make “availability payments” to LINXS, which may be adjusted downward if the APM system does not meet specified availability and performance requirements. LAWA’s APM is the first APM system to be procured through an availability payment P3 delivery model.
LINXS is the proposer that LAWA selected in January 2018 through LAWA’s comprehensive APM procurement process. LINXS is comprised of ACS Infrastructure Development, Balfour Beatty, Bombardier Transportation, Fluor and HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions.
The APM system will include six stations and up to 9 electric powered trains, each with four cars, in simultaneous operation. The APM trains will travel on an elevated 2.25-mile long guideway, easing access into and out of the second largest airport in the United States (LAX) and connecting travelers to LA Metro’s Crenshaw Light Rail Line, intermodal transportation facilities and a consolidated rental car center.
