Troubled LAX People Mover delayed again and it might not be the last time

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Set us as preferred The opening of the new People Mover train that’s supposed to transform traffic at Los Angeles International Airport has been pushed back yet again, with contractors now aiming to launch passenger service in early January — though they won’t commit to that.The 2.25-mile automated train originally was supposed to open in 2023, and more recently, contractors said they hoped to start service next month.The reasons for the latest delay on the $3.3-billion project are murky.The deadline for the train’s completion is technically Dec.8.

But in its Sept.16 disclosure filing, contractor LAX Integrated Express Solutions, known as LINXS, said it believes it will require additional time.

In order to operate, the train will have to undergo 30 days of successful consecutive testing, receive an independent overview and an assessment by Los Angeles World Airports.A utility agreement with the L.A.

Department of Water and Power also needs to be completed.If all goes well, the train could be running by Jan.6, according to LINXS.

If it does open by then, it would be in operation a little more than a month before the Super Bowl at nearby SoFi Stadium — the next possible major test run for the train ahead of the Olympics after it missed its chance for the World Cup.But there’s no guarantee it won’t take longer.“There can be no assurances that achievement of the Passenger Service Availability Date will not be delayed further,” the filing said.Representatives of LINXS — a private-public partnership that includes Fluor, Balfour Beatty, ACS Infrastructure Development, Dragados USA, HNTB and others — didn’t responded to requests for comment.LAWA has maintained that the train will not open without extensive testing that meets safety standards.“Rigorous, exhaustive testing of all tracks, signaling systems and vehicles is the standard industry practice for major automated airport transit infra...