After years of delays, LAX’s automated people mover train finally has an official completion date and could welcome riders as soon as January 2026.
The holdup was due to a series of disputes between Los Angeles World Airports and the project’s contractor, LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS). Airport officials approved a sweeping settlement Thursday, structured with $550 million in incentives to ensure the builder gets the job done on time.
Once complete, the automated people mover is expected to carry more than 30 million people to and from the airport in its first year
Fast forward to 2028, it will shuttle thousands of spectators of the 2028 Olympic Games toward SoFi Stadium to many of the city’s new Metro connections, bike shares, and sports arenas.
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How did we get here?
Delays began piling up after both parties disagreed over the project’s timeline, technology access, conflicts with local municipalities, and compensation, as LAist reported. Since then, an independent mediator sided with the contractor and said “LAWA failed to act in good faith and comply with the contract documents."
In exchange for resolving all existing contract disputes, LINXS will get a deadline extension and additional funding. Builders are now slated to complete construction by Dec. 8, 2025.
What’s taking so long?
You can already see much of the 2.25-mile elevated train track threading between buildings and the freeway. At first glance, the automated people mover looks finished, which is why the extended timeline has let down some travelers looking to use it.
Today, LA's BOAC approved an agreement that sets a construction completion date of December 8, 2025, for LAX's APM. This state-of-the-art train will be a game changer for travel to and from LAX, making it easier and more convenient than ever before.#LAXTransformation pic.twitter.com/2LQZLr19N6
— LAX Airport (@flyLAXairport) July 18, 2024
“Unfortunately, this is par for the course for transit projects in general across the U.S.,” said Jacob Wasserman, the lead public transportation researcher at UCLA. “Cost overruns, and delays like this are frustrating, especially when they report the project is 95% or 96% completed.”
But it's in the final stretch that Wasserman said projects like the people mover face roadblocks as builders rigorously test the train system, and in many cases, they find issues.
“It's when they resolve outstanding claims for things that the contractor and the public sector disagree about, and how much it costs. So that's what they're doing now at the airport authority.” Wasserman said.
Other deadline busters that added to the timeline included permit delays and unexpected construction roadblocks like utility and other engineering challenges.
About the settlement
Thursday’s settlement will only disburse funds to builders as they achieve specific milestones to reach the December 2025 deadline. The agreement resolves more than 80 claims and disputes between the parties.
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Since 2021, airport officials have OK’d $330 million to settle disputes. This new wave of settlement money brings that total to a little less than $880 million above initial project cost estimates. Here’s a rundown of those costs:
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- March 18, 2021 - $97 million to settle design and engineering disputes
- March 2, 2023 - $101.7 million to settle all delay-related disputes through December 8, 2022.
- October 2, 2023 - $69.5 million to settle all the Global Roadway Claims, and $30 million to project contingency.
- May 2, 2024 - $200 million, and the authority of the Chief Executive to approve and execute any contract amendment up to $40 million. That funding is now being used as the upfront payment to LINXS as detailed in the settlement approved by the BOAC Thursday.
- July 18, 2024 - Another $350 million to settle all existing claims, with built-in incentives for completing the project.
- March 18, 2021 - $97 million to settle design and engineering disputes
The biggest win for LAWA is that a date of completion is baked into the contract, said Jacob Adams, executive director of the project.
“One of the biggest things for me personally is allowing my team and the LINXS team to be able to focus on the job, instead of resolving all of these technical issues," he said.
Other outstanding disputes include issues like COVID-19 cost increases, but officials said they plan to settle those after the project is completed.
What's next?
The L.A. City Council still needs to OK the new funding, but Wasserman said it’s likely the settlement will be approved. A vote has yet to be scheduled.
