LAX/Metro Transit Center
| Company type | Public transportation facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | June 6, 2025 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Los Angeles Metro Rail network, bus services, LAX |
| Products | Rail and bus transit services |
The LAX/Metro Transit Center operates as a multimodal transportation facility located in Los Angeles' Westchester district, California. Positioned near the intersection of Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street, it acts as a vital interchange linking the Los Angeles Metro Rail network with various bus services. This center accommodates the C and K rail lines and features amenities such as a customer service office and a Metro Bike Hub. The facility commenced operations on June 6, 2025.
Referred to by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) as the Intermodal Transportation Facility East (ITF East), it currently serves as the main Metro Rail access point to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) through shuttle bus connections, pending the inauguration of the LAX Automated People Mover scheduled for January 2026.
History
Since the removal of the Pacific Electric network, efforts to establish a rail link between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the wider regional rail system have been proposed intermittently since the 1960s.
In the late 1980s, during the development of the C Line (formerly known as the Green Line), Metro explored extending service northward from Aviation/Imperial station to LAX. This included proposals for either direct terminal stops or a station near Lot C connected via a people mover. To retain this possibility, Metro constructed concrete ramps and stub tracks west of Aviation/Imperial station. Nevertheless, by 1994 these extension plans were abandoned due to conflicts with the Federal Aviation Administration and local authorities, some of whom prioritized transit service to residential neighborhoods. Additionally, critics claimed that Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) resisted the extension to safeguard parking revenues.
Upon the C Line’s launch in 1995, Aviation/Imperial station remained the nearest rail access to LAX, located roughly away and linked through a complimentary LAX Shuttle service.
Interest in an airport rail connection was renewed during planning for the north–south K Line (initially called Crenshaw/LAX Line) throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The proposed alignment followed Aviation Boulevard, adjacent to LAX, including a wye junction branching from Aviation/Imperial’s stub track to share routes with the C Line heading north. The K Line did not originally include an airport-specific station; a separate initiative in 2011 under the Airport Metro Connector (AMC) program assessed potential connection alternatives.
A 2012 Alternatives Analysis examined multiple scenarios, including a direct rail extension into airport terminals and integration with LAWA’s planned Automated People Mover (APM) outlined in its 2004 Master Plan. The study concluded that linking with the APM (Alternative A) was most economical and caused least disruption.
In June 2014, Metro selected Alternative A2, positioning the connection at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street—approximately half a mile north of Aviation/Century station. This plan involved constructing a new K Line station designed as a comprehensive multimodal hub featuring a station building, concourses, bus bays, bicycle amenities, and public artwork.
Originally referred to as Aviation/96th Street during its development phase, Metro officially adopted the name LAX/Metro Transit Center in June 2022 following community feedback. Environmental approvals were secured in 2016, with construction commencing in 2021.
The station, designed by Grimshaw Architects, was initially slated for a late 2024 opening but experienced delays pushing its launch to mid-2025. On April 24, 2025, County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced an official opening date of June 6. The center opened that evening after ceremonies involving media and VIP guests.
As of 2025, this transit hub accommodates both the C and K Lines, eleven bus routes, and the LAX Shuttle service. A direct link to the LAX Automated People Mover is anticipated in January 2026. The total expenditure for construction was approximately $900 million.
Transit connections
As of now, the bus terminal at this station has taken over from the LAX City Bus Center and Aviation/Imperial station as the main transfer point for both local and regional bus lines. The following routes serve this hub:
| Operator | Route | Bay | Destination | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Cities Transit | 109 | 9 | Redondo Beach Pier | ||
| Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica) | 3 | 4/5 | Santa Monica | ||
| Rapid 3 | The Rapid 3 route will cease operations after August 9, 2025. | ||||
| Culver CityBus | 6 | 7 | UCLA | ||
| Rapid 6 | |||||
| GTrans (Gardena) | 5 | 10 | Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station | ||
| Los Angeles Metro Bus | Template:LA Metro route (owl) | 12 | Downtown Los Angeles | Operates late night only | |
| Template:LA Metro route | 8 | South Gate | |||
| Template:LA Metro route | 13 | Norwalk | |||
| Template:LA Metro route | 12 | Downey | |||
| Template:LA Metro route | 11 | Whittier | |||
| Template:LA Metro route | 15 | Long Beach | |||
| SoFi Shuttle | 8 | SoFi Stadium | Runs during NFL home games and select special events | ||
| LAX Shuttle | "M" | "1/2" | "Los Angeles International Airport" | "Service to end following the launch of the LAX Automated People Mover" | |
| Metro Micro | "N/A" | "14" | "LAX/Inglewood Zone" | "Demand-responsive transit service" | |
| Torrance Transit | "8" | "6" | "Torrance" |
Once the LAX Automated People Mover is operational, passengers will have direct access to charter and intercity bus services at LAWA-operated bays reachable via the eastern entrance of the people mover platform. These services include LAX’s FlyAway, Antelope Valley Airport Express, Santa Barbara Airbus, Central Coast Shuttle, and Ventura County Airporter.
Artwork at the hub
The transit center showcases a sculpture created by Los Angeles-based conceptual artist Glenn Kaino, commissioned through Metro Art. Named The Distance of the Sun, this installation features a series of vessels connected in a spiraling formation suspended above. The ships represent universal aspirations for space exploration and emphasize themes of collaboration and creativity. This artwork aligns with the skylight above the hub, symbolizing an upward journey toward the sky and drawing inspiration from the short story The Distance of the Moon.
Upcoming Metro transit links
Metro intends for this station to serve as the southern endpoint for Phase 2 of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor, which is currently in Phase 1 route planning with an anticipated completion around 2040. Furthermore, it is proposed to become the southern terminus for the Lincoln Boulevard Transit Corridor bus rapid transit line, projected to be finished by 2047. Funding for both initiatives is provided by Measure M.