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LAX leaders approve direct, non-stop bus service to Irvine
Plan would link the airport to Orange County's busiest transit hub.
By SEAN EMERY - THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
IRVINE A plan to connect Los Angeles International Airport to the Irvine train station with a direct bus link has cleared another hurdle, with airport officials backing what they describe as a convenient and affordable alternative for travelers hoping to avoid traffic congestion and parking woes.
The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners on Monday approved a three-year license agreement with the city of Irvine to expand their FlyAway direct bus service program into Orange County. Irvine leaders signed off on the plan last month, hoping to get the bus service up and running before the peak travel season begins in November.
Airport leaders are proposing a $25 one-way fare for the 50-mile trip between Irvine and LAX, with two children ages 8 or younger allowed to ride free with each paying adult.
The airport board will officially sign off on the exact fare, as well as number of trips per day, when they choose a bus company to operate the service, a decision that is expected on Oct. 19.
FlyAway is currently comprised of three bus lines from LAX to Van Nuys, Westwood and Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. The service is run by Los Angeles World Airports, a city department tasked with overseeing LAX, along with Van Nuys and Ontario airports.
The Irvine train station at 15215 Barranca Parkway is the county's busiest transit center, serving Amtrak, Metrolink and the Orange County Transportation Authority.
Airport planners estimate that the LAX buses could see as many as 72,000 passengers during their first year of operation.
The agreement with Irvine also calls for Los Angeles World Airports to pay the city $6,800 for sidewalk repairs and new signage at the train station. In return, Irvine will provide nearly 500 surface parking spaces at the train station where FlyAway users can park for free for up to 30 days.
The bus service proposal comes as LAX officials are looking at ways to reduce congestion around the airport. The airport's master plan calls for six more FlyAway sites to be established by 2015.
The agreement also ends a more than decade-long push by Irvine leaders, dating back to the days when local officials were seeking an alternative to the since-defeated El Toro airport proposal by connecting residents with existing transit options.
Contact the writer: 949-553-2911 or semery@ocregister.com