At today’s Metro board meeting, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe called for a detailed strategy and plan to complete a transit connection to LAX by 2020.
“Frankly, it’s embarrassing that the second largest city in America with the third busiest airport still does not have a direct transit connection,” said Knabe. “While Metro talks about accelerating projects, there could not be a higher priority than connecting our airport to all regions of Los Angeles County. A direct connection will not only benefit our residents, but also the millions of tourists who visit Los Angeles each year.”
The Green Line extension to LAX/Airport Metro Connector is currently projected for completion in 2028. Knabe’s motion, approved 7-5, asked for the Metro CEO to report back with a plan, including exploring funding alternatives with Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA); local, state and federal partners, and public-private partnerships. Knabe also requested a timeline and required actions, including an advocacy approach for coordination with federal agencies like the FAA and FTA. Metro is scheduled to report back at the January 24, 2013 board meeting.