Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) took another step towards a fully connected Los Angeles International (LAX) airport this past week with the demolition of the last structure necessary to allow for the construction of the future Automated People Mover (APM) Maintenance and Storage Facility (M&SF). LAX Integrated Express Solution (LINXS), the developer of the APM – the centerpiece of LAWA’s Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) – successfully demolished a structure located at 9520 Belford Avenue. After demolition, non-hazardous and reclyable material were separated out to help divert waste from going to landfills.
“The Landside Access Modernization Program is comprised of several smaller elements that combine for one mega-project that will transform LAX and airport experience,” said Bernardo Gogna, LAWA LAMP Program Executive. “The demolition of this structure and the start of work at the Maintenance and Storage Facility is the next step forward in creating a world-class airport.”
The M&SF, spanning 111,000 square feet, will provide storage, a train wash and maintenance shops for the APM train cars. It is also the control center for the entire APM system, where the trains are controlled via 24-hour surveillance. This facility is the only section of the project where the train cars are at-grade; elsewhere, the trains run 50 to 75 feet in the air along a 2.25-mile guideway beginning at the Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) Facility and ending at the West Station of the Central Terminal Area.
Up next for the area is the grading of the site, which involves excavating the soil and evening it into a flat surface. Utility work will be underway throughout the summer, and by late fall construction of the foundations will commence. Once the foundations are laid, the team will focus on laying the train tracks and the start of building construction in 2020.
The tracks within the M&SF allow trains to move around to the different areas of the yard for various maintenance tasks like cleaning the interior and exterior of the trains, testing trains, vehicle storage and service. Within the footprint of the M&SF yard are three storage tracks and one test track, while the M&SF building interior includes a track where trains will enter for maintenance work.
The M&SF will boast various sustainability elements, which will help the facility achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. The M&SF will install grey concrete for all site and parking lot paving, as well as high-Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) roofing to mitigate the urban heat island effect, keeping the building cool in the hot summer months. The facility will employ high-efficiency mechanical and electrical systems, and the solar photovoltaic panels will reduce the building’s annual energy cost. The solar panels also will be in place over parking areas. Additionally, the facility will have capacity for eight covered bike racks for employees who bike to work, and preferred parking will be offered for employees working in the facility that utilize carpool and vanpool options.
The overall APM system is also striving for an Envision rating, which measures the sustainability on infrastructure projects through construction and operations and maintenance. Created by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the intent of the Envision rating is to acknowledge when sustainability goals are achieved by ensuring smart investments are made regarding scarce resources.
“With projects like the Maintenance and Storage Facility, LAWA is leading the way in creating sustainable facilities,” said Samantha Bricker, Deputy Executive Director, Environmental Programs Group. “We are minimizing energy use and incorporating sustainable infrastructure elements that will lead us, and our partner LINXS, toward achieving LEED Gold certification for this building and delivering the first Envision project at LAX.”
The APM, scheduled for completion in 2023, features six stations, which will connect the terminals to new off-site parking facilities, new drop-off/pick-up locations, a Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility and will provide the long-awaited connection to the regional light rail system. End-to-end, the ride is 10 minutes, with a new train pulling into a station every two minutes.
For all construction impacts, renderings of the projects and more information on LAX’s modernization, visit FlyLAX.com/ConnectingLAX. Individuals can also subscribe to receive email updates online.
The project also features a new two-lane roadway called Maintenance Drive, which will connect 96th Street to Arbor Vitae Street and provide direct access for employees to the facility.
