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At LAX, the traffic patterns create a fundamental mismatch between the number of vehicles entering the airport and the capacity of the airport's infrastructure to handle that demand. With around 95,000 vehicles entering LAX every day, the limited access points and capacity have led to major congestion problems.
The airport is designed in a “horseshoe” layout that divides the airside, where planes operate, from the landside, which is primarily for passenger access. This design, while iconic, has become a major hurdle. The horseshoe configuration means that vehicular traffic gets constricted as vehicles drop off and pick up passengers, leading to a chaotic combination of lateral and forward movement that exacerbates congestion.