More Construction Delays En Route to LAX

Expect major delays if you are driving to LAX at the end of the month. Officials are reporting that what has been dubbed the “Century Crunch” will take place over the long weekend of July 25 to July 28, one of the busiest travel times of the year. The name comes from Century Boulevard, which serves as the main thoroughfare into Los Angeles International Airport. In fact, it is estimated that a full third of all traffic coming into LAX takes Century Boulevard.

The additional traffic and delays will be caused by the closure of Century Boulevard at Aviation Boulevard while crews demolish a defunct railroad bridge. The project is being undertaken to clear the way for the planned extension of the Crenshaw rail line, which will one day provide easier light rail access to the airport. The road closure is scheduled to begin Friday, July 25, at 9:00 p.m. and will continue until 6:00 a.m. the following Monday.

Fortunately, Hilton LAX Parking shuttles will remain unaffected by the road closure. The Hilton is located on the airport side of Century, meaning our shuttles won’t have to take the planned detours that will delay normal traffic. If you park with us, you can rest easy knowing that your shuttle will not be delayed or require you to embark any earlier than you would normally.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has maintained that the forewarned delays may never materialize, as was the case with the “Carmageddon” closure of the 405 Freeway. He also spoke of the new need for L.A. to have a “world-class transit” system. For now, however, travelers to LAX can at least rest easy knowing that the Hilton LAX Parking service is running shuttles ever 15 to 20 minutes, with no delays.

Metro Recommends Light Rail to LAX

Los Angeles International Airport remains one of the biggest and most visited airports in the world to not have rail service, but a new recommendation by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority seeks to change that. In a move to get a project underway, the MTA issued a report that called for a $1.7 billion project to extend light rail closer to the terminals. The plan includes an expansion of the Green Line, Crenshaw Line, and a “people-mover” to shuttle people from the light rail stations to the various terminals, rental car facilities, and a planned ground transportation hub.

www.latimes.com

For those who are excited at the prospect of taking the train to LAX, celebrations are a bit premature at this point, unfortunately. The first project that is projected to be completed is the Crenshaw Line, with an anticipated opening date of 2019. And even after this station is completed, it will not be connected to the terminals. That project will take even longer to complete. It seems that any plans to take the train to LAX in the near future will have to be put on hold.

Driving remains the most popular way to get to and from the airport. In fact, even after the completion of the expansions to the Green Line, Crenshaw Line, and people-mover, airport officials project that a majority of travelers will still drive. Just 2 percent will take the train, 33 percent will take taxis, 8 percent will use the FlyAway bus, and the remaining 57 percent will drive themselves.

If you are among the majority of people driving to LAX, consider Hilton LAX Parking. With a secure lot for your car and complimentary shuttle service to and from the terminals, air travel is a breeze. Plus, think of all the lines you’ll avoid at the train stations and people-mover platforms.

More Construction on Deck at LAX

Los Angeles International Airport is in the midst of a $4.11 billion makeover, and that means a lot of new construction. While this will undoubtedly improve airport conditions in the long run, it will also affect the travel plans of millions of Angelenos. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, there are at least five upcoming construction projects at LAX that may increase your travel times.

Tom Bradley International Terminal

Starting this week, the screening area on the terminal’s south side will be closed. However, the Transportation Security Administration is taking steps to alleviate the congestion from the shuttered checkpoints by opening additional checkpoints near the back and center of the ticketing area. These conditions will be in effect until fall.

Terminal 4

The Connector Project is currently underway, creating a bridge between Terminal 4 and the Bradley terminal. Until it’s completed, travelers will be bused from one to the other. Unfortunately, the bridge isn’t expected to be completed until late next year.

Terminal 5

This Delta terminal is currently undergoing construction upgrades. However, the worst you can expect here is the additional noise that comes from this kind of work. Construction is scheduled through next year.

Sidewalks

Additional shuttle rides and security checkpoint detours aren’t the only things that could delay your travel and cause you to miss flights. Sidewalk construction will reroute passengers near the Bradley terminal’s Upper Level, Terminals 1 and 7, and parking structures 1 and 7. So be on the lookout for additional foot traffic in these areas.

Lane Closures

The inner lane on the Lower Level roadway is set to be closed to allow crews to reinforce the Upper Level. The area of the lane closure will move around the roadway between the hours of 1 and 8 a.m. for the next month. This is the arrivals area of the terminal.

Rather than battle it out in this traffic, why not park off-site and take a shuttle to the terminal? Our Hilton LAX Parking has complimentary shuttle service every 15-20 minutes, helping you avoid the construction hassles and inevitable delays that come with them.

LAX Experiences On-Site Parking Issues

www.latimes.com

The flight delays that plagued Los Angeles International Airport and several other airports in the region last month also caused a host of problems for travelers beyond missed flights: the on-site parking lots were also clogged beyond capacity. According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, the “ground stop” that left so many flights to be delayed also forced LAX officials to ask drivers to file into parking lots 1, 2, and 7, as well as offsite Economy Lot C at 96^th Street and Sepulveda Boulevard. The lots that drivers often use when dropping off and picking up loved ones – lots 3, 4, 5, and 6 – were flooded with people waiting for passengers stuck on delayed flights.

According to the article, these lots are especially prone to clogging, even without the unusual flight delays. The reason for the crowding is their close proximity to the terminals. When seeking to relieve traffic, officials directed drivers to other lots off site. It seems that, when it comes to avoiding long parking delays at LAX, even airport officials recommend using an off-site lot.

Rather than drive all the way to the terminal, only to be redirected to Sepulveda and 96^th, why not take advantage of the parking concierge service at the Hilton LAX? Like other off-site lots, we offer complimentary shuttle service to and from LAX. But unlike some of those lots, our shuttles run every 15-20 minutes like clockwork. Other amenities offered by our Hilton Airport Parking include covered and secured parking, WiFi access, and a 24-hour Bistro serving up Starbucks coffee and quick eats. If you were traveling through LAX when the “ground stop” occurred, how much more convenient would it have been to park with us? When driving to the airport, avoid the delays of parking near the terminal by parking with us.

Flights Resume Regular Schedule at LAX

Flights out of Los Angeles International Airport have resumed their regular schedule after a “ground stop” was issued yesterday afternoon. The reason behind the delays was a “computer issue,” according to statements made by Federal Aviation Administration officials in an article by KTLA. This glitch in the system, although apparently rare, was serious enough to ground flights throughout the region. In addition to LAX, other airports affected included Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Long Beach Airport, and Ontario International Airport. They were also delays at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City International Airport.

The ground stop was initially announced via Twitter at 2:13 p.m. on Wednesday. A spokesman for the FAA announced that the system was being restored around 3:30 p.m. Although the problem was being addressed in a little over an hour, it was long enough to cause numerous disruptions to the flight schedule. Approximately 27 inbound flights were diverted, 27 were cancelled, and 212 flights were delayed as a result of the glitch. More than 30 flights out of LAX were held on the ground, in some cases spending up to two hours on the tarmac. 23 outbound flights were cancelled altogether.

Although flight delays can be a real inconvenience, it’s always important to make sure you arrive at the airport on time for your scheduled flight. Most of the time, flight delays are announced shortly before the scheduled departure time. Fortunately, Hilton LAX Parking’s shuttle service can get you to the airport on time, every time. Although we can’t control unscheduled air traffic control issues, we can make sure that you don’t miss your flight. With shuttles departing every 15 minutes, you can be sure that you’ll arrive on time, even if your flight doesn’t.