The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners has approved moving forward with a $4 billion plan to transform Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) ground transportation and arrival and departure experience, according to a press release from the Los Angeles World Airports website.

The Landside Access Modernization Program includes a new automated LAX Train that will connect passengers to the airline terminals from new facilities at the airport including a Rental Car Center, multiple locations for passenger pick-up and drop-off and Metro’s planned Crenshaw Line station at 96th Street/Aviation Boulevard.

The Rent-A-Car Center will consolidate all rental car companies into one location connected to the airport by the LAX Train. This will eliminate the need for rental car shuttles.

“Today we are moving one step closer to bringing rail to LAX and building the world-class airport our residents and visitors deserve,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “The automated train to LAX, consolidated Rental Car Center and new passenger check-in facility will not only save time for travelers, but it will also ease traffic at the airport, on our freeways and in the surrounding neighborhoods. … ”

The Board’s vote sets the groundwork for the LAX Landside Access Modernization Program to begin the environmental review process in January 2015. Construction is expected to begin in 2017.

“This program will transform how people travel to and from LAX in the future,” said Sean Burton, president of the Board of Airport Commissioners. “We are committed to building a system that will relieve congestion, encourage transit use and create a reliable, efficient, time-certain arrival and departure experience for residents and visitors.”

The plan is designed to relieve congestion in the Central Terminal Area (CTA) as well as on local streets surrounding the airport, according to the press release.

“This is an important commitment to Los Angeles,” said Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports. “The Board’s decision today means local residents and visitors to LAX won’t have to wait a generation to benefit from these improvements. Improvements are happening now.”