Completing LAX’s Automated People Mover

Rosendin Electric Brings Its Expertise to High-Profile Rail Job

By Cherri Senders

It’s one of LA’s highest profile construction projects – the LAX Automated People Mover (APM). The centerpiece of the airport’s $30 billion upgrade, the People Mover is now scheduled to open in 2026, in time for the World Cup and 2028 Olympics.

More than 300 IBEW 11 brothers and sisters have worked for the APM’s Electrical Contractor, Rosendin Electric. For many of them, their efforts on the APM’s various passenger stations and the elevated track have been one of the highlights of their careers. “This is the biggest and most challenging single project I’ve ever supervised,” noted Rosendin Superintendent Patrick Gorham. “It’s probably even more complex than SoFi Stadium was. This project is huge, with extra challenges because it’s a busy airport that has to keep functioning.”

When completed, members will have installed over 100 EV charging stations ranging from 120v-480v, Smart Parking features, efficient LED lighting control systems, parking guidance systems, Wi-Fi, flight information and more.

The dream of a rail line to the airport has been in the works for many years, but active construction has been ongoing for more than five years. The 2.25-mile elevated rail project has already clocked 1.25-million-man hours, with the electrical portion of the contract worth $300 million to build out seven transit stations and another three substations.

Once completed, LAX travelers will be whisked from the APM stations to their terminals in minutes, bypassing the notoriously traffic-choked horseshoe below.

IBEW 11 Business Manager Robert Corona and Business Rep Mike Costigan recently toured the project to talk to the members and take a look at the work that is ongoing. “Projects like this that emphasize solar and EVITP are the future of our union,” said Corona. “We’re proud to work at iconic projects like LAX that will be here for generations – for our children and grandchildren. Millions of people will pass through here each year and will see our handiwork.”

Challenges Just Another Day on the Job

There’s no doubt it’s been a very complicated project, with multiple contractors and a multitude of safety requirements. With the most recent estimate for completion of the $2 billion project now early 2026, Superintendent Gorham said the extra time will be used for a full year of testing before passengers will be allowed to board.

Gorham noted the most challenging parts of the job were supply chain issues, especially chip shortages, and getting the materials from station to station along the 2.25-mile track. In addition, they had to accommodate for the low bridge heights for deliveries and cranes, and reversing traffic on Century Blvd.

Then there were the safety meetings with multiple LA Airport and City department heads, oftentimes at midnight, and closing down traffic or reversing traffic flow on Century Blvd when bridges had to be moved into place.

“We had to coordinate with LAWA and the Emergency Response Teams. We’d often have to coordinate some of these logistical issues – especially bridge heights with these huge cranes coming through along with oversized deliveries,” noted Gorham.

The huge project has four different general contractors as part of the LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS) joint venture. Plus, there were many different types of electrical systems that had to be installed: DC distribution, medium voltage distribution, SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), substations and more.

Gorham’s favorite part of the job: the relationships he’s built with his co-workers, and mentoring the apprentices. “It’s all about teamwork, team building and creating more opportunity for the next generation,” Gorham said. His enthusiasm for supporting new members is well known, as he taught for many years at the Electrical Training Institute (ETI).

Gorham, who is coming up on his 30-year work anniversary, is a legacy IBEW member whose grandfather and uncle were both in the union. Looking back on his career in IBEW, he believes that labor unions are the best way to the middle class. That’s why he encourages young people to go into the trades. “No one can take that skill away from you. I really like that we pay it forward for the apprentices. The journeymen pay for the apprentices’ books to pay it forward for the next generation. I want to help them make a good livelihood.”

“It’s been really rewarding for me over the years. Many of my former students are now leaders in the industry. I’ve taught numerous Foreman, General Foreman, Site Superintendents, Area Superintendents, General Superintendents, Project Managers, Division Managers, and Vice Presidents of NECA Contractor’s.”

The End of the Line

As construction on the largest APM station was starting to wind down, some 60 IBEW 11 members were still on site. The “West CTA” station is the final stop for the Automated People Mover. It is the largest of the stations and the main hub that will provide LAX Passengers connections to Tom Bradley International, Terminal 3 and Terminal 4. In addition, it also serves as a parking structure that will have three levels of parking with over 100 EV Stations.

Manny Blanco, IBEW 11 member and Rosendin General Foreman, has been on the job for the past three and a half years. Even with his years of experience, he’s constantly learning on the job. “We did all the electrical infrastructure, including tracks and power, power to the rails, monitors, lights, security, fire alarms, 750-volt DC, verifying voltage, cable, train controls, communications cables for much of the 2.25 miles from the car rental hub to the terminals.

“It’s been a great job. It’s my first transportation job and has been very challenging with all the train controls and equipment. LAX has a high-quality control process which is not typical to standard projects which was a challenge. The amount of documentation and recording justified employing a staff of 6 full-time employees at our busiest stage of the project.

Sergio Mendizabel, an inside wireman and foreman over a crew of 10, worked at the East & Central stations prior to West CTA, and brought a lot of that knowledge over with him. “There’s no doubt the West CTA is the biggest and most complicated of the stations.” His team worked on three levels of the parking structure, and the train platform on level 6. “We installed a lot of EV charging stations.”

For David Cardenas, an IBEW 11 journeyman who’s been on the job for two years, he admits he likes working on such a big job, “since I can get my hands on everything, I’m not bored at all. The union’s been great. It’s allowed me to put a downpayment on my house.”

Francisco Moreno considers himself lucky. An inside wireman, he did most of his apprenticeship at SoFi, LAX and Wilshire Grand – all high-profile projects he can point to with pride as he drives around Los Angeles. He’s been at LAX for two years, and it’s had its challenges. He did a lot of wire pulling and setting devices. “It’s been lots of hard work. But in the end, the Union’s been good to me. My years in the Navy gave me good training, and prepared me for the life of an electrician.

“When I needed help on the job, my foreman or the other journeymen on the job broke it down for me and talked me through it,” Moreno said. “One day you’re running conduit, and the next day you’re doing lighting controls. My crew had great mentors.”

Moreno concludes: “Besides enlisting in the military, joining the IBEW was the best decision I ever made. I’ve got financial security and great benefits. And I’m now in the process of looking to buy a house.”