LINXS, the selected APM developer, has built partnerships with community-based organizations to focus on expanding the pipeline of workers, especially those from non-traditional backgrounds. Through more than $1 million in investments, the project will create infrastructure career pathways for women, former foster youth, individuals in reentry and transitioning out of gang involvement and persons with disabilities. HireLAX, LAWA's Apprenticeship Readiness Program, will be a key partner in this effort, as will other resources offered by the Building Trades and other industry partners.
To support emerging businesses and the local workforce, $580 million has been identified for local, small or disabled veteran-owned businesses, with $85 million committed exclusively to local, small businesses in Los Angeles. The project will create more than 2,000 construction jobs, with at least 30% of those opportunities reserved for residents of Los Angeles as well as highly impacted communities near LAX. Sixty percent of careers during the 25-year operations and maintenance phase are designated for local workers.
In addition to reducing traffic, the APM will leverage cutting-edge sustainability practices to reduce the airport area's carbon footprint. The system's fleet will consist of 44 cars that are fully electric powered, 98% recyclable and generate a portion of their own power through regenerative braking, while providing an industry-leading ride quality for users. The operations control center and maintenance facility will generate nearly half of its power from solar energy and is designed to be LEED® Gold Certified. These design enhancements allowed the team to offset the carbon equivalent of 12 million vehicle miles driven.
Fluor will participate in every phase of the 30-year project and will lead the design-build joint venture team. Design activities began in 2018, with construction starting in 2019. The project will benefit from Fluor's mega-project and transit expertise, including the
Eagle Commuter Rail P3 project in Denver and the design-build
MBTA Green Line Light Rail Extension in Boston.