Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has demolished the last structure necessary to enable the construction of its 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) – demolished a structure at 9520 Belford Avenue. After demolition, non-hazardous and recyclable 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 in one mega-project that will transform LAX and the 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 111,000ft2 (10,3190m2), 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 50-75ft (15-23m) in the air along a 2.25-mile (3.6m) guideway beginning at the Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) Facility and ending at the West Station of the Central Terminal Area.
Up next 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, with construction of the foundations beginning in late autumn. Once the foundations are laid, the team will focus on laying the train tracks and the start of building construction in 2020.
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.
The M&SF will feature various sustainability elements, including the use of 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 its annual energy cost. Photovoltaic 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 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, and a Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility. It will also provide the long-awaited connection to the regional light rail system.