Meeting the Future at LAX

To help remedy the traffic long-associated with LAX, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has embarked on its Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP)  to relieve congestion for people traveling to and from the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the U.S.

Eight major construction projects will close critical portions of Central Terminal Area (CTA) roadways in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

We asked MPIOC VP of Membership Mark Stewart, who sits on the (GCLA) / (AFT) Joint Ground Transportation Committee for the LAX expansion, a few questions about the LAX construction.

As a transportation provider, what do you think meeting planners should keep in mind about the LAX “LAMP” initiatives?

Congestion, Congestion and More Congestion! From a ground transportation perspective, meeting planners will need to educate their clients of the major renovations, ongoing construction, road and lane closures and the impact this may cause for group transportation in and out of Los Angeles International Airport for the next four years.

How will this affect your company’s ground transportation business?

• Ground transportation providers have been seeing the affects with the congestion on the roadways leading to the Central Terminal Area (CTA) and longer delays in dropping off passengers at the curb for check-in.
• Eight major construction projects as part of the CTA upgrades and people mover construction will close critical portions of the CTA roadways.
• Parking garages at various times of the day will be closed for upgrades creating challenges that possibly will affect chauffeurs meeting passengers in the baggage claim area.

How will the LAMP construction at LAX affect our meeting and conference attendee experience?

The limousine association group Greater California Livery Association — GCLA and its partnership with Advocates for Fairness in Transportation — AFT are working closely with LAX Landside officials so that we can still provide a seamless transition of services to meeting planners and them clients for the next four years. Is it going to be easy? Probably not, but with LAX official’s assistance the ground transportation industry will continue to work tirelessly to provide professional, safe, secure and reliable service.

How can planners help to mitigate the effect on their attendee?

Patience, Patience and more Patience. I believe the more information meeting planners have relating to the LAMP, along with input from Los Angeles International Airport officials, should support the best results during this tenacious time period.