The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority today held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction on the $898.6 million Airport Metro Connector (AMC) Project.
This project will directly connect the Metro system to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The AMC is the ninth station along the Crenshaw/LAX Line currently under construction and will connect directly with the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Automated People Mover project—presently being built—that connects directly with the airport passenger terminals.
The project includes platforms to access Metro light-rail trains, and an expansive 16-bay bus plaza that will serve Metro and other municipal bus operators including Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Culver City Bus, Torrance Transit, GTrans (Gardena), and Beach Cities Transit.
“This is an exciting project that will serve as the ‘Gateway’ to LAX for future generations—just as LAX has long served as the gateway to Southern California for so many millions of people,” L.A. Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said in a statement. “The AMC station will also provide multiple connections to the Metro system and will help airport-area employees and travelers easily get to wherever they need to go in our region.”
The rail station portion of the project will contain two light-rail platforms that will be easily accessed via escalators and elevators, new ADA compliant swing door fare gates to allow for smooth passage with luggage, and a full roof covering over the entire platform.
The project has been designed to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating with sustainable features that include 550,000-plus kilowatts of solar panels, large native landscaping areas, and electric bus charging stations. The AMC project is forecast to be completed in 2024.
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SOURCE: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
