Originally Posted by
GUWonder
Better to build in and up the mass transit infrastructure sooner than later unless expecting a catastrophic drop in population and traffic at LAX. Even if airlines are eventually going to upgauge for their flight movements at/around LAX, that’s going to likely mean worse traffic at times for those trying to get to and from the airport. It’s not going to get any cheaper to do big projects later in such a large population center.
The almost unfathomable incompetence with LA airport management ignoring the need for upgrades over so many years, decades, then trying to slam a band-aid project through just because of the Olympics, and lacking any innovative ideas, flies to Miami to take the blueprints for their multi-modal shared facility and high speed people mover system, to copy an almost identical implementation in LA.
They needed an over-cap built across all the terminal buildings to link them by the people mover, and have the cars setup so carry-on baggage customers could check in online, go to the multi-model center to do a kiosk check-in, clear security and board a secure airside car to their terminal assignment, while those needing to check bags or agent services would take the unsecure train cars and go downstairs to the counters for service. The now fully connected terminals could then use flex gate assignments to spread flights around the terminals and better utilize the gate space currently available before building more terminals.
Yes, that would have taken more innovation, more time, more money spent, but with better results, more longevity for the airport, better resource utilization and the putting off future upgrade which may never be needed for decades to come.
But LAWA was so busy trying to put ONT out of business, they didn't have time for more innovative project design until their "oh no, the Olympics are coming and our airport is a total hole" wake-up moment.