LAX Terminal Construction and Landside Access Modernization Program
#421
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I think the only project in north america that suffers the same level of almost mind-numbing incompetence is the Eglinton LRT in Toronto that was originally conceived over 20 years ago - and while fully built-out for a year, has still not opened for regular service.
The project in question actually opened for revenue service on 2/8. Not questioning your pointwhile I know nothing about it other than its existence, the fact that we have a 10k+ word Wikipedia article, including a month-by-month account of construction and implementation, is telling.
Terminal construction and landside access modernization at LAX is no different than anywhere else in that these projects are complex, take a lot of time, and generate an extraordinarily high degree of public interest.
#422
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We should have years of experience with improved public transit at LAX before the Line 5 Eglinton, also known as the Eglinton Crosstown light rail transit (LRT), reaches YYZ around 2031.
Terminal construction and landside access modernization at LAX is no different than anywhere else in that these projects are complex, take a lot of time, and generate an extraordinarily high degree of public interest.
Terminal construction and landside access modernization at LAX is no different than anywhere else in that these projects are complex, take a lot of time, and generate an extraordinarily high degree of public interest.
LAX has the reverse problem - an organization (LAWA) riddled with incompetence, graft and other assorted third-world-like mayhem, resulting in a complete lack of oversight over project managers and construction companies, who take advantage of the chaos to do whatever they want with the project, including pushing the deadlines into whatever they feel like without repercussion provided the requisite bribes are paid.
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LAX has the reverse problem - an organization (LAWA) riddled with incompetence, graft and other assorted third-world-like mayhem, resulting in a complete lack of oversight over project managers and construction companies, who take advantage of the chaos to do whatever they want with the project, including pushing the deadlines into whatever they feel like without repercussion provided the requisite bribes are paid.
#424
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The situation is pretty well known and accepted around Southern California, and often talked about. No different from the frequent corruption within the LA County Commission. Everyone knows and talks about it, but its rarely in the news until the FBI shows up with a search warrant.
The proof is in the pudding - LAWA failed to supervise LINX properly, failed to hold them accountable, and were repeatedly run over by LINX incompetence and borderline criminal behavior making countless unapproved changes to the project on the fly and submitting billable change orders for unapproved changes with LAWA agreeing to pay a considerable amount of these change orders while still failing to supervise the project. A never ending cycle of multi year incompetence with each party trying to outdo the other with miscreant behavior.
Im sure plenty more surprises await once real testing gets underway.
The proof is in the pudding - LAWA failed to supervise LINX properly, failed to hold them accountable, and were repeatedly run over by LINX incompetence and borderline criminal behavior making countless unapproved changes to the project on the fly and submitting billable change orders for unapproved changes with LAWA agreeing to pay a considerable amount of these change orders while still failing to supervise the project. A never ending cycle of multi year incompetence with each party trying to outdo the other with miscreant behavior.
Im sure plenty more surprises await once real testing gets underway.
#425
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The situation is pretty well known and accepted around Southern California, and often talked about. No different from the frequent corruption within the LA County Commission. Everyone knows and talks about it, but its rarely in the news until the FBI shows up with a search warrant.
The proof is in the pudding - LAWA failed to supervise LINX properly, failed to hold them accountable, and were repeatedly run over by LINX incompetence and borderline criminal behavior making countless unapproved changes to the project on the fly and submitting billable change orders for unapproved changes with LAWA agreeing to pay a considerable amount of these change orders while still failing to supervise the project. A never ending cycle of multi year incompetence with each party trying to outdo the other with miscreant behavior.
Im sure plenty more surprises await once real testing gets underway.
The proof is in the pudding - LAWA failed to supervise LINX properly, failed to hold them accountable, and were repeatedly run over by LINX incompetence and borderline criminal behavior making countless unapproved changes to the project on the fly and submitting billable change orders for unapproved changes with LAWA agreeing to pay a considerable amount of these change orders while still failing to supervise the project. A never ending cycle of multi year incompetence with each party trying to outdo the other with miscreant behavior.
Im sure plenty more surprises await once real testing gets underway.
#426
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The train manufacturer delivered the final vehicle years after the project was first scheduled to begin operating. The CEO of LAWA is on tape admitting that other City agencies failed to meet the permit review timelines promised to LINXS. From construction management reports, it appears a single LAFD inspector went rogue and mandated a complete electrical system redesign after its construction was already complete. LINXS and its electrician are suing each other claiming shoddy work and withheld payments, respectively. LINXS and its lead engineer are suing each other, too.
And on top of this LINXS is a JV -- so internally you have the train manufacturer arguing with the engineers arguing with multiple different contractors over which party is responsible for which portion of the delays. Even if the financial liabilities of each JV member are predetermined, it's an easy way for overall progress and collaboration to break down.
I think this is why the project is so delayed -- when everyone is responsible, no one is responsible.
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Agreed. For what it's worth, every internal and external source has suggested a combination of incompetence, mismanagement, and failure to perform on the part of everyone involved in the project, from LINXS to LAWA to other LA City departments. Plus COVID impacts on top.
The train manufacturer delivered the final vehicle years after the project was first scheduled to begin operating. The CEO of LAWA is on tape admitting that other City agencies failed to meet the permit review timelines promised to LINXS. From construction management reports, it appears a single LAFD inspector went rogue and mandated a complete electrical system redesign after its construction was already complete. LINXS and its electrician are suing each other claiming shoddy work and withheld payments, respectively. LINXS and its lead engineer are suing each other, too.
And on top of this LINXS is a JV -- so internally you have the train manufacturer arguing with the engineers arguing with multiple different contractors over which party is responsible for which portion of the delays. Even if the financial liabilities of each JV member are predetermined, it's an easy way for overall progress and collaboration to break down.
I think this is why the project is so delayed -- when everyone is responsible, no one is responsible.
The train manufacturer delivered the final vehicle years after the project was first scheduled to begin operating. The CEO of LAWA is on tape admitting that other City agencies failed to meet the permit review timelines promised to LINXS. From construction management reports, it appears a single LAFD inspector went rogue and mandated a complete electrical system redesign after its construction was already complete. LINXS and its electrician are suing each other claiming shoddy work and withheld payments, respectively. LINXS and its lead engineer are suing each other, too.
And on top of this LINXS is a JV -- so internally you have the train manufacturer arguing with the engineers arguing with multiple different contractors over which party is responsible for which portion of the delays. Even if the financial liabilities of each JV member are predetermined, it's an easy way for overall progress and collaboration to break down.
I think this is why the project is so delayed -- when everyone is responsible, no one is responsible.
David
#428
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I don't ever go to the ITF East/ConRAC, so I'm not sure how that will be. It's closer to the 405 so you have less traffic before you get to the giant parking lot of the 405.
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Getting to the Economy Parking/ITF West pickup/dropoff still sucks because the surface streets that feed them are bottlenecks. From the 110/105 you end up having to go through the Sepulveda tunnel, which isn't bad at the times I travel, but can but can be a nightmare northbound at peak times because the tunnel feeds the horseshoe traffic, too. Aproaching from the northeaast east you end up on one of a few feeder roads or residential streets that also all get blocked up at peak times. Or mixed in with the Sepulveda southbound traffic that's also trying to get into the horseshoe.
I don't ever go to the ITF East/ConRAC, so I'm not sure how that will be. It's closer to the 405 so you have less traffic before you get to the giant parking lot of the 405.
I don't ever go to the ITF East/ConRAC, so I'm not sure how that will be. It's closer to the 405 so you have less traffic before you get to the giant parking lot of the 405.
David
#430




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Just curious, what are the long-term plans for:
1) Northern end of TBIT, containing gates 135, 137, 139, and 141? I believe this building is a remnant of the old TBIT terminal. Are they eventually going to demolish this area and extend the main terminal ?
2) Southern end of TBIT West. On a top-view on google maps, there appears to be a hangar to the west, but the pavement beyond gate 225 appears to have been excavated.
1) Northern end of TBIT, containing gates 135, 137, 139, and 141? I believe this building is a remnant of the old TBIT terminal. Are they eventually going to demolish this area and extend the main terminal ?
2) Southern end of TBIT West. On a top-view on google maps, there appears to be a hangar to the west, but the pavement beyond gate 225 appears to have been excavated.
#431




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https://www.lawa.org/transforminglax...se-south---msc
#432
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#433
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From the LAist The LA Report Evening Edition email:
LAX's People Mover: delayed again, $880M over budget. What went wrong
LAX's People Mover: delayed again, $880M over budget. What went wrong
LAX people mover to begin reliability testing as dispute between city and contractor heats up
The contractor building the LAX Automated People Mover will soon initiate a simulation of how the train will operate when it begins shuttling travelers between airport terminals and the L.A. Metro system... Its a big milestone for the project, and a visible milestone, said Jake Adams, an airport executive who is overseeing $5.5 billion in LAX upgrades, including the people mover.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles World Airports, the city agency that manages LAX, and its contractor for the people mover have escalated their rhetoric over a dispute that began last year over faulty electrical equipment, according to an LAist review of correspondences received through a public records request. Adams said hes fairly optimistic that the dispute can be resolved separately from opening the train to the public, even if it intensifies into a legal battle.
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The testing milestone that is slated to begin the week of April 20 is designed to assess the reliability of the train. The requirement is that [the contractor has] to operate it for 30 consecutive days without a hiccup, Adams said of the testing phase known as system demonstration... Adams said the process is likely to take a total of 60 days based on conversations with other airports that have developed similar people mover systems... Adams did not commit to a date for when travelers will be able to fully use the train.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles World Airports, the city agency that manages LAX, and its contractor for the people mover have escalated their rhetoric over a dispute that began last year over faulty electrical equipment, according to an LAist review of correspondences received through a public records request. Adams said hes fairly optimistic that the dispute can be resolved separately from opening the train to the public, even if it intensifies into a legal battle.
---
The testing milestone that is slated to begin the week of April 20 is designed to assess the reliability of the train. The requirement is that [the contractor has] to operate it for 30 consecutive days without a hiccup, Adams said of the testing phase known as system demonstration... Adams said the process is likely to take a total of 60 days based on conversations with other airports that have developed similar people mover systems... Adams did not commit to a date for when travelers will be able to fully use the train.
#434
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Has Los Angeles World Airports considered selling the movie rights to this epic public-works fiasco? They could recoup some of the cost overruns. Maybe pass out flyers to people crawling through the horseshoe.
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