The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board on April 22 approved a budget of $898.6 million for the Airport Metro Connector project.
This multilevel rail station near 96th Street and Aviation Boulevard will connect the almost completed Crenshaw-LAX light rail line with the people mover that will whisk passengers to terminals at Los Angeles International Airport.
When the connector project is completed — expected in 2025 — the station will have 12 escalators and 13 elevators to link platforms for the Crenshaw-LAX line and the people mover. It will also have a 16-bay bus plaza, a private vehicle drop-off point, a bicycle hub and a customer service-ticketing center.
Tutor Perini in March announced it was the low bidder on the contract. Assuming that’s the case, the company would be in good position to be awarded the work.
The budget is roughly $315 million higher than the amount Metro stipulated in supporting documents for Measure M, the sales tax increase voters approved in 2016. In its board report, Metro cited higher land acquisition costs as the primary reason for the budget increase.
Construction on a preliminary phase of the project is slated to begin this month.
