1659260 - Now That the Project is Finished, Will It Work?

Abstract: Los Angeles World Airports is spending almost $30 billion on infrastructure improvements designed to enhance efficiency and accommodate increased passenger volumes while at the same time improving the passenger experience at LAX.  Projects have become increasingly complex and interconnected.  Additionally, development timeframes sometimes separate initial planning to final delivery by up to a decade.  Original design assumptions, driven by operational needs at the beginning of planning and design, may have changed.  Stories abound of expensive airport facilities being completed that do not perform as intended with significant detrimental operational results.  The worldwide growth of the Operational Readiness and Airport Transition (ORAT) process is designed to address this growing challenge.  LAWA has organized an Airport Operational Readiness Division that is now applying the ORAT process to all major airport projects ranging from new terminals to the LAX automated people mover.  We have already seen significant success in this area and are eager to share some of our lessons learned.