LAX people mover slips again to February 2027 as arc flashes and a utility dispute stall testing

LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS), a consortium whose members include Fluor, Balfour Beatty, ACS Infrastructure Development and Dragados USA, moved its forecast from Jan. 6 to Feb. 5 in its latest monthly progress report, the Los Angeles Times reported. The report says the date will slip day for day until two city agencies, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the Department of Water and Power (LADWP), sign agreements on solar power for the train. LAWA says it has not signed off on any opening date LINXS has given.

Testing has caused its own delays. The contractor's October report counted three arc flashes on the guideway on Sept. 23 and Sept. 25, NBC Los Angeles reported. Westside Current, citing a project report, said the blasts damaged the power rail and the guide beam and that their cause was still under investigation. A separate Oct. 8 report to lenders described four arc blasts, according to the Times. LAWA says the damaged sections have been repaired, and the Times reported that testing has resumed.

Before passengers ride the 2.25-mile elevated line, it needs 30 consecutive days of testing without major problems, a review by an independent engineer and LAWA's approval. The project was first due to open in 2023 and is running about $1.35 billion to $1.4 billion over budget, depending on the count.

The money fight is in court. LINXS filed suit against the city in July and alleges LAWA wrongly denied it extra time and compensation, after a 2024 deal had already given the consortium $550 million more for added work, Westside Current reported. A Los Angeles County civil grand jury report put most of the blame on the contractor, according to the Times. Mayor Karen Bass told KNX she expects trains running by January and said a contractor faces heavy financial penalties if they are not. Her challenger, Councilmember Nithya Raman, has made the delay a campaign issue.