| Staff Recommended Alternative |
Based upon the environmental studies and other studies to date, Los Angeles World Airports Staff believes that Alternative D - Enhanced Safety and Security is the environmentally preferable option.
Alternative D - Enhanced Safety and Security Alternative
Improves Airport Safety
Center Taxiways to Improve Airfield Safety. The airport's north runway system will be reconfigured to accommodate a center taxiway and improve the separation between the runways. The southernmost north runway (Runway 24L) will be relocated approximately 340 feet south, which will require the demolition of existing Terminals 1, 2, and 3, and the northern portion of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). On the south runway system, the southernmost runway (Runway 25L) will be relocated approximately 50 feet south to accommodate a new center taxiway between the south runways. The new center taxiways will improve airfield safety and reduce the possibility of runway incursions.
Gate Space to Accommodate Approximately 78.9 Million Annual Passengers (MAP). Gate space is reconfigured to accommodate larger gates for current and next-generation aircraft associated with international and long haul domestic travel. The number of aircraft gates will decrease from the existing 163 to 153 to place practical constraints on numbers of operations and passengers handled and limit the throughput of LAX to approximately 78.9 MAP.
Reconfigured Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). New hold rooms and departure gates capable of handling wide-body aircraft are added to the west side of TBIT to replace the existing remote hardstands on the west end of the airfield.
Satellite Concourse to Accommodate Relocated Gates. A new Satellite Concourse just west of the Tom Bradley International Terminal would replace the gates demolished in the removal of Terminals 1, 2, 3, and the north side of TBIT due to the construction of the north runway complex and center taxiway. The Satellite Concourse would be connected to the Central Terminal Area (CTA) by an underground people mover.
New Security Measures for the 21st Century
Redeveloped Central Terminal Area (CTA). The CTA will be reconfigured to provide for security improvements and enhanced passenger conveniences. The existing parking structures will be demolished and replaced by passenger terminals that will provide for improved ticketing, baggage processing, and concessions. The new facilities will include additional levels of screening and be constructed to accommodate the federal mandate of 100 percent security screening of all checked baggage. Vehicle access to the CTA will be restricted to FlyAway buses, service and emergency vehicles to protect against the devastating impacts to airport users and airport operations by a car or truck bomb blast.
West Employee Parking Structure Improves Security; Reduces Traffic Impacts. A new 12,000-space parking structure would be constructed on the west end of the airport property to provide improved and consolidated employee security screening facilities. By locating this facility on the west side of the airport property, natural dispersion of air emissions is improved. Employee-related traffic is separated from local and passenger traffic to improve access for all.
Ground Transportation Center to Provide Safe, Convenient Passenger Service. A new Ground Transportation Center (GTC) built in the northeast end of the airport property would serve as the site for parking and curbside passenger pick-up and drop-off. This facility would replace the existing drop-off/pick-up curbside and long-term parking in Lot C with new facilities in the Manchester Square area. The GTC provides for increased security by separating passenger processing from the parking areas. Passenger and baggage security screening would be accomplished at the GTC. Security measures such as the use of canine patrol units, advanced technology devices, random searches and behavioral observation would also be employed. The new facility offers space and increased flexibility to respond and implement enhanced security measures. From this facility, there is also increased convenience as passengers are transported to the CTA via an automated people mover in approximately five minutes.
Improves Ground Transportation Measures
Intermodal Transportation Center to Improve Transit Connections. A new Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) located at the northeast corner of Imperial Highway and Aviation Boulevard would provide the primary short-term parking for the airport with access by people mover to the CTA with one stop at a new consolidated rental car facility. The ITC will improve transit access with a direct connection to the Metro Green Line's Aviation Station and serve as the connecting point for regional transit buses and future MTA rapid buses. Security screening measures employed at the GTC would also be conducted at the ITC.
Direct Connection to Metro Green Line. A pedestrian bridge with moving walkways would connect the Green Line Imperial/Aviation Station directly to the ITC and the people mover system to the CTA.
Consolidated Rental Car Facility. The Consolidated Rental Car Facility (RAC) would consolidate all on-airport rental car operations for LAX for convenience of passengers and efficiencies of rental car companies. It will be connected via a people mover to the CTA and ITC to reduce the traffic impacts of multiple shuttle buses. Security screening of passengers and baggage would be conducted prior to boarding the people mover trains.
Automated People Mover Improves Passenger Convenience and Reduces Traffic. An automated people mover system will connect the GTC, RAC, and ITC to the CTA. The trains would be designed to accommodate passengers, well-wishers, baggage and baggage carts. Service would be available every two minutes with an average wait of just one minute.
Expanded FlyAway Program Offers Exclusive Service to CTA. The FlyAway program would offer customers exclusive access to the internal CTA curb front. FlyAway customers would have premium handling of luggage and ticketing services at the airport curb front. Additional FlyAway terminal locations would be established throughout the region. The program encourages the use of high-occupancy vehicles from locations outside the airport area and results in reduced congestion and air emissions. Airport security screening would be accomplished at the FlyAway terminals.
Reconfigured On- and Off-Airport Roadways Reduces Traffic Impacts. New on-airport roadway systems adding more than 36 lane-miles connect the GTC and ITC and improve the flow of airport traffic. Approximately 5.5 lane-miles of proposed City surface street improvements around LAX would provide more efficient access to the multiple access nodes to LAX (e.g. GTC, ITC, RAC, CTA). Mitigation plans include direct, non-stop connections between the I-105 and I-405 Freeways to the new airport facilities.
Provides Job Opportunities
Construction Jobs. Development of these facilities would create nearly 49,000 direct construction jobs in Los Angeles County.
MAJOR ELEMENTS
Airfield Safety Improvements
Airport Roadways
Automated People Mover (APM) System
Consolidated Rental Car Facility (RAC)
Ground Transportation Center (GTC)
Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC)
Redeveloped Central Terminal Area (CTA)
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