After just a week in operation, LAX expanded the size of its rideshare pickup lot starting today.
This comes after a flood of passenger complaints about wait times of an hour or more.
LAX made its rideshare pickup lot 50 percent bigger.
The addition of three more lanes for Lyft passengers and keeping two lanes each for taxi's and Uber users will provide more for customers.
LAX Deputy Director for Operations Michael Christensen says they have not neglected to get them out of the airport either. Christensen says they will be carefully monitoring the passenger and vehicle flow in the area, especially in peak periods over the next few days and are ready to make modifications to the system if need be to prevent congestion.
The system has been criticized by passengers, the taxi industry and Uber and Lyft drivers.
Some were they're waiting more than an hour to grab an Uber or Lyft Sunday night, the first Sunday night with the new system in place since last week.
The new system requires people to take a shuttle (or walk over) to the lot to get a ride.
LA city councilman Joe Buscaino says he wants LAX brass to explain what they're going to do to fix the problems. He also wants to know if LAX plans to allow taxis to resume curbside pickups -- cab drivers are furious.
LAX officials apologized Sunday night and asked the rideshare companies to provide more cars to meet the higher demands.
In the past, passengers were able to grab or hail a Lyft or Uber at specific locations across the airport.
The pick-up area, called "LAX-it," offers bathrooms, and phone charging stations and is east of Terminal 1.
"Anyone who has come to LAX knows that traffic in the Central Terminal Area can get rough, and we have heard from our guests that the current system with ride pickups can be frustrating," said Keith Wilschetz, Deputy Executive Director for Operations and Emergency Management, Los Angeles World Airports, in a press release. "LAX-it will provide an easy, efficient experience for guests using taxis and ride apps and reduce overall traffic in and around the central terminal area for all those driving to and from LAX and our neighbors."
The shuttles now operate in a dedicated lane on the lower/arrivals level where they will not compete with other airport traffic and will take guests from any terminal to the new pickup area, according to the press release.
Shuttles will come every three to five minutes during peak hours. They will make a maximum of 2 stops before heading to LAX-it.
LAX staff will be available at each shuttle stop to help with wayfinding, questions, luggage loading and assistance for guests with disabilities.
KNX In-Depth hosts Charles Feldman and Mike Simpson sat down with Mayor Eric Garcetti in October. One of the topics discussed was the new rideshare change happening at LAX.
Mayor Eric Garcetti was a bit wary as well.
However, ride app and taxi drivers will continue to drop off passengers at the terminal curbs on the Upper/Departures Level.
People picking up loved ones on the arrival level will do so from the outer lane. The green rideshare shuttle bus will pick up people from the inner lane, close to the terminals.
