LAX SkyLink Nears the Finish Line

[00:00:00] Foreign. [00:00:06] LAX Skylink nears the finish line welcome to the STM Daily News Podcast, bringing you the stories and updates that matter. Today. We're checking in on one of Southern California's most anticipated and most delayed transportation projects, LAX Skylink. And yes, the trains are finally running. [00:00:26] There's just one Passengers still can't ride them. The LAX Skylink, formerly known as the Automated People Mover, is Now more than 99% complete, and trains are traveling along the 2.25 mile elevated guideway as the system undergoes extensive testing. The current target has passenger service potentially beginning in October 2026, with October 6th appearing in Project scheduling information. [00:00:51] But don't book your inaugural Skylink ride just yet. Los Angeles World Airports has not announced Oct. 6 as an official grand opening date, and several important hurdles remain. One of the biggest is reliability testing. The automated trains, signaling equipment, stations, platform doors and communication systems all have to demonstrate that they can operate safely and reliably before the public is allowed aboard. And after years of delays, the project is also facing new financial pressure. [00:01:20] Important contractual deadlines are approaching this fall, while the consortium responsible for building and operating Skylink, known as Lynx S, is involved in a legal dispute with the city of Los Angeles. Remember, this train was originally supposed to open in 2023, so why does Skylink matter so much? Because when it finally opens, getting to LAX could become dramatically easier. The driverless electric trains will serve six stations and operate 24 hours a day. They'll connect the airport terminals with parking, the Consolidated Rental car facility, and, crucially, the LAX Metro Transit Center. That means travelers using Metro's C and K lines will finally be able to transfer to Skylink instead of taking a shuttle bus for the last leg into the airport terminals. The entire Skylink trip is expected to take roughly 10 minutes from end to end. So are we finally approaching the end of the LAX Skylink saga? [00:02:16] Maybe. The trains are running, the system is more than 99% complete, and October is getting closer. But after several missed opening dates, we'll wait for Los Angeles World Airports to make it official. [00:02:28] For more on the LAX Skylink, including what's happening behind the scenes as the opening approaches, Read our full [email protected] I'm your host, and this has been the STM Daily News podcast Stories this moment, News for life. Thanks for listening.