The Los Angeles City Council has voted unanimously to approve a 28-year US$2bn contract with LA Gateway Partners (LAGP) to design, build, finance, operate and maintain (DBFOM) the Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) Facility at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), California.
“Los Angeles is going places, and LAX is helping us get there,” said LA Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Today’s approval is a historic investment in our infrastructure, a milestone that will create middle class jobs, reduce traffic congestion and deliver a world-class experience for travelers.”
Deborah Flint, CEO, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the airport operator, added, “We are pleased to have received unanimous approval from both the Los Angeles City Council and the Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) for this final, integral piece of the Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP). This facility will highlight the future of mobility and we look forward to our partnership with LA Gateway Partners as we elevate LAX to a world-class airport.”
Southern California represents the largest rental car market in the world and LAX is the second-largest rental car airport market in the USA behind Orlando. On average, LAX rental car companies rent an average of 265,000 vehicles per month.
The ConRAC facility will feature 6,600 parking stalls, 10,000 storage spaces for idle vehicles and 1,100 rental car employee parking spaces. The 5,300,00ft² facility will be connected to the APM, which will eliminate the need for rental car shuttles to have access the terminal loop. With the removal of rental car shuttles, LAX will see a reduction in vehicle traffic and passengers waiting to board curbside at the airport.
The ConRAC will be built using a public-private partnership (P3) contracting model. LAGP will design and construct the facility and will also be responsible for operating and maintaining it for a 28-year period. This incentivizes the construction and operating systems to be built to last. The APM system is also being built with this contracting model.
The ConRAC is a major component of the LAMP, which also includes the APM system, Intermodal Transportation Facilities (East/West) and associated roadway improvements. The ConRAC is scheduled to become operational in 2023.