The long-delayed Los Angeles International Airport People Mover project has missed yet another opening target, injecting infrastructure failures directly into the Los Angeles mayoral race as candidates clash over accountability and contractor oversight. Originally scheduled to debut in 2023, the automated transit system known as SkyLink missed subsequent target dates, including a recent window for next month, and failed to be ready for when Los Angeles hosted World Cup games.
The over two-mile transit system is designed to connect airport terminals directly to a new rental car facility, parking structures, and the L.A. Metro system, easing severe ground traffic congestion around the airport. However, the project remains significantly over budget and mired in contractor delays.
Mayoral Candidates Clash Over Project Leadership and Delays
Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has placed the blame for the stalled transit system squarely on Mayor Karen Bass’s leadership, pointing to multiple missed deadlines that occurred during Bass’s tenure. While major construction on the infrastructure project began in 2019 under previous city leadership long before Bass took office, critics argue current administration oversight has failed to force contractors to finish the job.
In a published campaign video, Raman stated that if elected mayor, she would pursue formal investigations by both the city attorney and the state attorney general into the contractor’s handling of the transit project. Raman vowed in her video that contractors responsible for the delays would never receive another dollar of city funding.
Mayor Bass defended her administration’s stance in an official statement, emphasizing that the focus remains on compelling private entities to complete the work. “I look forward to this being done so we can safely and efficiently move Angelenos and visitors to our world-class airport in the new year,” Bass said in the statement. “The contractors need to get this across the finish line.”
LAX Officials Cite Stringent Safety Protocols and Testing
Airport management has attributed the persistent timeline slippage to the contractor while insisting that comprehensive testing protocols cannot be rushed. In an official statement, LAX representatives maintained that safety remains the top priority for the elevated train system.
“We will not compromise on these stringent safety protocols, as delivering a system that safely, dependably, and durably serves Los Angeles and our upcoming global events is our primary focus,” the LAX statement read in part. Airport officials have not announced a definitive new opening date for SkyLink following the latest delay.
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