A new LAX People Mover system at the Los Angeles International Airport was approved by Los Angeles City Council to carry passengers to terminals and to nearby rail lines.
A $4.9 billion contract over 30 years was awarded to LAX Integrated Express Solutions, a group of companies that will build, operate and maintain the elevated system and its six electric trains that are expected to carry 10,000 passengers per hour around the airport, CBS Los Angeles reported.
The vote was approved unanimously, 14-0 by the council, the station reported. The new system is expected to open in early 2023 after being completed in 2022 and tested before being used by the public.
"Making LAX the most passenger-friendly airport in the world means giving travelers what they need and have been asking for — reliable, convenient transportation to and from the terminals," Mayor Eric Garcetti said, CBS Los Angeles reported. "This historic investment will ensure that LAX is seamlessly connected with communities across the region."
The trains will have four cars each and will travel at top speeds of 47 miles per hour, with each train making the entire travel loop in 10 minutes, according to the website for the project.
About 30 million passengers a year are expected to use the system, which will include escalators and moving sidewalks, the site reported. The trains will also use regenerative breaking to create some of their own power and will use solar energy for the command center and maintenance facility.
More than 1,500 construction jobs will be created by the project, which aims to use local small businesses and disabled, veteran-owned businesses for much of the labor and construction required, the site reported.
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