And today the LAX Metro Transit Center opened to the public.
Thousands of people attended the invite-only opening ceremonies, which featured various elected officials and Metro leadership touting the new station connections.
Standing ovation for Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins.
Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins proclaimed that the new station will supercharge Metro's transit network across the region and welcome the world to Los Angeles.
Ribbon-cutting for the new LAX Metro Transit Center.
The new LAX station is really impressive. It's massive and beautiful.
The architecture is reminiscent of Lower Manhattan's The Oculus transportation hub. The roof structures are all full of sweeping ribbed curves. The space is very open, full of natural light and air circulation. Transitions from semi-indoor to outdoor are gradual and offer extended views.
The Distance of the Sun by Glenn Kaino.
A swirling large scale sculpture - The Distance of the Sun by Glenn Kaino - anchors the center of the central area. But the central area isn't the only aesthetically pleasing space.
Overview of LAX Metro Transit Center - from 2021 Metro presentation.LAX Metro Transit Center from Aviation Boulevard.
The 11-acre LAX station includes a half-dozen connected components:
Rail platform for Metro K and C Lines
16-bay bus plaza serving six Metro bus routes, plus Beach Cities Transit, Big Blue Bus, Culver CityBus, GTrans, Torrance Transit, and LAWA shuttles.
3-story bike hub, with secure bike parking, showers, bathrooms - connected to a bike/walk path
Driver drop-off
Connection to the future LAX people mover - a separate project opening early 2026
Below is a photographic tour of the various components (in the above order), but to really get a sense for this remarkable place, please go visit it yourself. Metro is free all weekend, and this is worth checking out.
C and K Lines station
Metro K and C light rail lines platform, with stairs/escalator to the concourse level.The new LAX C/K Station is covered, but with lots of natural light and ventilation.The C/K platforms are 40-feet wide, the widest light rail platform in the Metro system.
Bus Plaza
LAX Station bus plaza. At today's midday celebration, the bus bays hosted food trucks instead of buses.The one bus at the station earlier today was this World Cup branded vehicle. Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins announced that Metro is the official transportation partner for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. See earlier SBLA coverage of Metro World Cup plans.View of the main LAX Metro Transit Center building from the bus plaza.Seating at the LAX station bus plaza.Celebration attendees feasting in the bus plaza.Walkway leading to escalators to the bus plaza - an example of open breezy semi-indoor/outdoor space that characterizes the LAX Metro Transit Center.
Bicycle Features
3-story Metro Bike Hub at LAX Metro Transit Center.The LAX Bike Hub did not appear to be fully functional yet, though this Streetsblog editor took advantage of the bike parking.This bike/walk path - along Arbor Vitae Street - connects to the Metro LAX station.Cyclists can connect from the above path to the LAX Bike Hub via this very wide sidewalk (along Aviation Boulevard) billed as a multi-use path.Along the multi-use path, the new transit center features drought-resistant landscaping, watered in part by rainwater harvested on-site.
Drop-Off
LAX Metro Transit Center driver drop-off area along Aviation Boulevard. On the left is the wide sidewalk / multi-use path.Driver drop-off area.The front of the LAX station building is the drop-off area, along Aviation Boulevard, but likely many riders won't see this frontage when transferring between rail, bus, and people mover.
Future LAX people mover station
The escalators from the concourse level to the LAX people mover platform above. The people mover is not expected to open until early 2026, so this part of the station is closed off. In the meantime, shuttle buses ferry riders to airline terminals.The future people mover access point is blocked off by this barrier wall featuring promotional images for the 2026 World Cup. LAWA (L.A. World Airports - the city department that operates LAX) is testing their under-construction people mover - visible in the right side of this photo.
Caltrans' 20-mile $48 million Pacific Coast Highway repaving project is mostly like-for-like - disappointing in an area unfriendly for walking and bicycling
