Metro opens LAX/Metro Transit Center station, transforming airport access and urban transit strategy

On June 6, 2025, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority inaugurated the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station, a multimodal transit hub integrating light rail, municipal buses, airport shuttles, and future connections to the $3.34 billion Automated People Mover (APM) system at Los Angeles International Airport. Located at the intersection of Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street, the new station is a critical node in Metro’s $42.9 billion Twenty-Eight by ’28 initiative, designed to modernize the city’s transit infrastructure ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games.

This station, which cost approximately $900 million to develop, is now the southern terminus of Metro’s K Line and a major transfer point for both the K and C Lines. It also links six Metro-operated bus lines, eight regional transit providers, Metro Micro, and designated LAX shuttle services. The project’s completion ends decades of civic demand for rail-based access to LAX, the world’s seventh-busiest airport, and positions Metro to support the transportation needs of an estimated 30 million annual visitors expected in the lead-up to global events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and Super Bowl LXI.

How the LAX/Metro Transit Center improves access for airport workers and travelers

The LAX/Metro Transit Center station spans more than 1,100 feet and includes Metro’s widest light rail platform. The design features sweeping canopies, open-air walkways, and barrier-free access points for pedestrians, cyclists, and riders with limited mobility. The station’s two primary levels accommodate a 16-bay bus plaza, a secure bike hub, Metro customer service kiosks, and integrated fare gates monitored by 24/7 security personnel.

As part of its commitment to sustainability, Metro incorporated native landscaping and energy-efficient lighting into the buildout. The hub is located directly adjacent to Los Angeles World Airports‘ Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility (ConRAC), which will connect to the APM in 2026. Until then, a free LAX-operated shuttle will circulate every 10 minutes between the station and airport terminals.

For airport-area workers, many of whom commute from South Los Angeles or Inglewood, the station offers direct access to employment corridors previously underserved by rail transit. Officials from Metro estimate that LAX supports more than 57,000 badge-holding employees, most of whom currently depend on personal vehicles or infrequent bus routes.

Where the new LAX station fits in Metro’s Twenty-Eight by ’28 infrastructure strategy

The opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center marks the eighth completed project under Metro’s Twenty-Eight by ’28 plan, a multi-decade initiative funded by local Measures R and M, federal grants, and project-specific bond issuances. The goal of the plan is to complete 28 major mobility projects before Los Angeles hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.

The Twenty-Eight by ’28 portfolio includes the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor, the Sepulveda Transit Corridor (which may include monorail or heavy rail through the Sepulveda Pass), and regional bike infrastructure. Cumulatively, the plan represents the most ambitious public transportation investment in California’s history. Capital outlays for the current fiscal year exceeded $3.2 billion, according to Metro’s FY25 budget, and will rise further as work accelerates on the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor and the D Line subway extension.

Although the LAX station is now open, final system integration will not occur until the Automated People Mover becomes operational in 2026. The APM—managed by Los Angeles World Airports and currently in testing—will offer six stops, including three at the terminals, one at the Metro Transit Center, one at economy parking, and one at the ConRAC facility.

What Metro leadership and city officials are saying about the LAX station launch

Institutional reaction to the opening has been broadly positive. Metro Board Chair and LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn called the new station a “dream realized after more than five decades.” Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins characterized the project as transformative, noting that the station would serve as “a critical part of LA’s global welcome mat.”

Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Member Karen Bass framed the launch in terms of climate resilience, calling the transit center “a foundation for a more connected and sustainable Los Angeles.” County Supervisor Holly Mitchell highlighted the equity dimensions, emphasizing that airport-area workers—particularly from historically underserved neighborhoods—would benefit most from improved rail access.

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts noted that the station was not just a transit node, but a catalyst for regional economic growth. His sentiment was echoed by Metro Board Second Vice Chair Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, who added that the station’s impact would redefine transit dependency by empowering those who choose rail for reasons beyond necessity.

How much the LAX/Metro Transit Center cost and how it was funded

The transit center’s approximate $900 million cost includes design, construction, land acquisition, security infrastructure, and art commissions such as Glenn Kaino’s “The Distance of the Sun,” a suspended sculpture symbolizing collective journeys and civic ambition.

Funding for the project was drawn from a mix of Measure M local sales tax revenue, federal New Starts funds, and state climate bonds. The broader capital structure supporting the LAX corridor includes the $2.4 billion Crenshaw/LAX light rail line and the $5.5 billion LAMP program, which encompasses the APM and associated terminal improvements.

Metro’s operating budget has also been adjusted to accommodate added security, staffing, and shuttle integration services tied to the station. For FY25, Metro is projecting systemwide ridership recovery to reach 86 percent of pre-pandemic levels, up from 74 percent the prior year. This upward trend strengthens the agency’s long-term funding position, which is partly tied to farebox recovery ratios and matching grants.

How investors, developers, and the community are responding to the new transit hub

Transit advocates and urban infrastructure analysts have welcomed the opening, citing it as a template for other U.S. cities grappling with congested airport corridors. Publications such as Urban Transit Journal and Infrastructure Watch have characterized the station as “one of the most significant rail-to-airport investments in American transit history.”

Real estate observers note that nearby properties in Inglewood, Westchester, and along the Century Boulevard corridor have already experienced increased investor interest, particularly in multifamily development. Transit-oriented development (TOD) zones around the station are expected to generate long-term increases in both property values and transit ridership, especially once the APM is live.

Community feedback, especially among airport workers and commuters from South LA, has been largely positive. Local organizations such as Move LA and Investing in Place have issued public statements of support, though some advocacy groups continue to call for deeper fare integration and first-mile/last-mile connectivity in adjacent neighborhoods.

What risks remain for Metro before full LAX integration in 2026 and beyond

While the station is fully operational, the success of the LAX/Metro Transit Center depends heavily on the timely launch of the Automated People Mover. The APM has faced delays, cost overruns, and arbitration settlements exceeding $600 million due to construction disputes between LAWA and its contractors. A delay beyond early 2026 could affect planned service realignments and weaken the station’s early ridership performance.

Another risk is Metro’s ability to maintain operational efficiency across its expanding system. Although the agency has made progress on electrifying its bus fleet and improving service frequency on the K and C lines, ridership recovery remains uneven across time periods and neighborhoods. Institutional investors and rating agencies will be watching for consistent gains in farebox revenue and capital efficiency as Metro ramps up to the Olympics.

Nevertheless, Metro’s leadership maintains that the LAX/Metro Transit Center will be a cornerstone of the agency’s Olympic delivery strategy. If successfully integrated with the APM, the hub will provide a seamless, zero-emission link between the world’s travelers and one of the largest metropolitan transit systems in the U.S.

Why the LAX/Metro Transit Center is a model for future urban rail-to-airport systems

With its wide platform, integrated art, security enhancements, and green infrastructure, the LAX/Metro Transit Center station sets a new bar for American transit design. As the countdown to the 2028 Olympics continues, the station stands as both a physical gateway to the city and a symbolic entry point into Metro’s long-term vision of a more sustainable, connected Los Angeles.

Whether the promise of a seamless curb-to-gate public transit experience becomes reality will depend on how well Metro and LAWA execute the next phase: APM integration, service frequency improvements, and regional fare coordination. But as of June 2025, one thing is clear: the long wait for a train to LAX is finally over.