Associated Press
Los Angeles International Airport will experiment with a limited restoration of taxi pickups in the central terminal area beginning later this month.
Taxi drivers have been pushing to resume pickups there since taxi and ride-hailing pickups were moved to a lot outside the terminal loop last fall to ease traffic amid major construction.
Airport officials said this week that one taxi pickup location will be established in a parking structure near the Tom Bradley International Terminal and adjacent Terminal 3.
Another taxi stand will be put back into service for travelers passing through Terminals 7 and 8.
Last October, the airport moved all taxi and ride-hailing pickups from curbside to a satellite lot dubbed LAX-it (pronounced LA-exit).
Airport officials said the move was necessitated to reduce traffic for construction of an automated people mover train and its stations as well as redevelopment of every terminal. Passengers can walk there or take constantly circulating shuttles.
Initially, there were numerous complaints about LAX-it but the airport says it has since been running smoothly.
Passengers from Terminals 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, will continue to be directed to use LAX-it for pickups.
The pilot program for the two new taxi locations will run for 90 days as its impact on traffic is studied.
