Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) announced that as the new LAX-it ride app and taxi pickup lot reaches two weeks since opening, wait times for rides have seen dramatic reductions since the first days of operation and the system is working as intended.
LAX-it was launched because of the construction underway at the airport, which will reduce curb space in the Central Terminal Area (CTA) by 30%, in addition to other traffic impacts. The initial challenges experienced at LAX-it were not uncommon for operational and infrastructure changes of this scale, especially when applied at the second-busiest airport in the country and the No. 1 origin and destination airport in the world. LAWA officials quickly analyzed these challenges and responded by rolling out a series of improvements that have reduced the wait times and enhanced the experience overall for taxi and ride-app passengers and drivers alike.
Since opening on Oct. 29, the LAX-it experience has improved significantly:
- When LAX-it began two weeks ago, wait times for rides reached 45-60 minutes for some passengers during peak times. However, this wait time has dramatically reduced. Wait times over the past eight days have rarely exceeded 10 minutes during peak travel time on high-traffic days, including this past Sunday evening and throughout the Veterans Day holiday on Monday.
- Additionally, the time that guests spend on the LAX-it shuttle has now reached an average trip time of less than 11 minutes, and shuttles consistently arrive every 3 to 5 minutes.
- Drivers are also seeing improvements. Previously, taxi and ride app drivers reported that it could take them as long as 45 minutes to reach LAX-it from holding lots. Now, over the course of the past six days, these times have been reduced to well under 10 minutes on average, with rare observations above 20 minutes at high peak times Sunday night.
These improvements are the result of deliberate and data-led changes that LAWA officials quickly implemented to ensure traveler and driver experiences were as smooth as possible. From minor adjustments to significant changes, officials implemented numerous adjustments to improve LAX-it, including:
- Lot Expansion: Officials expanded the LAX-it lot space by 50%, to ensure sufficient space for ride apps and taxis to pick up passengers.
- Dedicated Queueing Area: In response to chokepoints at key times on Little Century, a new queueing area was introduced over the weekend for the expansion lot, from which Lyft is operating. This area now provides additional lanes for Lyft drivers to prepare for passengers as they pull into the lot, reducing traffic on Little Century.
- Lot Enhancements: Canopies will be installed this week in both the original and expansion lot, to provide better protection from the elements for travelers.
- Signage and Roadway markings: In the first days after the LAX-it launch, it was determined that additional signage was needed for airport guests and drivers alike. New signs were introduced in addition to roadway markings such as lane striping alterations and stanchions.
- Shuttles: It was identified that additional shuttles were needed, and officials quickly increased the number of total shuttles from 20 at the launch, to what is now a fleet of 43. Additionally, a new area was also provided in the LAX-it lot for buses to park when off-duty, to avoid congestion in the bus lane and provide for more efficient off-loading of passengers. Shuttles are being deployed dynamically at those times and locations when they are needed most, and signage has been improved to assist both shuttle drivers and guests in identifying shuttle stops.
- Staffing: Staffing was monitored to account for high-need areas, and more staff were redeployed, including traffic officers and crossing guards at areas of heavy pedestrian activity. Staffing continues to be dynamic to address areas of highest need.
- Commitment to Education: Officials consistently prioritized educational-focused communications for travelers and drivers alike, to ensure understanding of the new process as well as to gather feedback. As changes were implemented, LAWA both worked with taxi and ride app partners and communicated directly with drivers to ensure they were aware of changes. Educational videos on the new LAX-it process were also featured on shuttles and in the terminals.
- Traffic Routes & Lighting: Traffic Routes, including extensions to traffic lights along Sepulveda Boulevard, are being actively monitored and adjusted to account for chokepoints and wait times.
The concept of LAX-it was carefully and systematically engineered and planned for well over a year, and launched with contingency plans ready, including those that are described above, for quick deployment. This data-driven approach led to the determination that LAX-it was the best solution for the airport – given its limited and highly utilized footprint – while the Automated People Mover train, the centerpiece of the modernization effort, is being built.
During that planning, cross-functional teams on the ground at LAWA were responsible for not only assessing the situation at the airport, but also benchmarking against other airports in the country which have undergone similar significant construction projects and/or implemented a centralized pickup location. Heeding the lessons learned from other airports who implemented operational changes of this magnitude, LAWA was poised with contingency plans and a 24-hour task force to make immediate adjustments.
Quelle: Los Angeles International Airport
