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LAX/Metro Transit Center station

Coordinates: 33°57′00″N 118°22′42″W / 33.9501280°N 118.3784392°W / 33.9501280; -118.3784392
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LAX/Metro Transit Center
C Line K Line
Train stopped at LAX/Metro Transit Center station platform during testing in December 2024
General information
Other namesEast ITF (Intermodal Transportation Facility)
Aviation/96th Street
Airport Metro Connector (Internally)
LocationLos Angeles, California
Coordinates33°57′00″N 118°22′42″W / 33.9501280°N 118.3784392°W / 33.9501280; -118.3784392
Owned byLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Platforms1 island platform (Metro)
1 island platform (APM)
Tracks4 (2 Metro, 2 APM)
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade (Metro)
Elevated (APM)
ParkingPaid parking nearby
Bicycle facilitiesMetro Bike Share
AccessibleYes
ArchitectGrimshaw Architects
Other information
StatusUnder construction[1]
Websitemetro.net/projects/airport-metro-connector
History
Opening2025 (Metro)[2]
2026 (APM)[3][4]
Previous namesAviation/96th Street
Future services
Preceding station Metro Rail Following station
Terminus C Line Aviation/​Century
toward Norwalk
Westchester/​Veterans
toward Expo/​Crenshaw
 K Line Aviation/​Century
toward Redondo Beach
Preceding station LAWA Following station
West ITF
towards West CTA
 LAX Automated People Mover CONRAC
Terminus
Location
Map

LAX/Metro Transit Center station (called the East ITF by LAX and known as Aviation/96th Street station during planning) is an under construction light rail transport hub in the Los Angeles Metro Rail system, located near Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street in the Westchester district of Los Angeles. The station was designed as a station for the C and K lines.[5] It will serve as the transfer point between Metro Rail and the LAX Automated People Mover (APM) serving the Los Angeles International Airport terminals and facilities. Additionally, the station will have connections to Metro Bus, other municipal bus lines, a customer service center, and a Metro Bike Share hub.[6] Metro is scheduled to start serving the station sometime in 2025, although the APM connection is not scheduled to open until early 2026.

History

[edit]
In anticipation of a future extension to LAX, Metro constructed two concrete ramps adjacent to the Aviation/LAX C Line station. These ramps are now linked, connecting the C and K lines rails to LAX.

Various proposals have been made to connect Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) by rail since the 1960s.[7] Development of the Los Angeles Metro Rail C Line (formally the Green Line) in the late 1980s proposed extending the line north from the Aviation/LAX station towards LAX, either serving the terminals directly or nearby at Lot C, with the use of a people mover to connect to the terminal buildings.[8][9] However, these plans were canceled in 1992 following disagreements with the Federal Aviation Administration and politicians who wanted the line to focus on local communities.[9] Some advocates criticized Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) for wishing to preserve parking revenues.[9] Following the opening of the C Line in 1995, the closest station to the airport is 2.4 miles (3.9 km) away at Aviation/LAX station, where a free LAX Shuttle is provided.[10]

In the 1990s and 2000s, the development of the Metro K Line once again considered connecting the Metro Rail system to LAX, as parts of the proposed line ran nearby on Aviation Boulevard.[7][11] The project would also connect the C Line to the K Line tracks at a new wye near the Aviation/LAX station, allowing the C Line to serve the airport.[11] Construction of the light rail line began in January 2014 without a station directly at LAX. The plan was to connect one of the line stations to the future LAX Automated People Mover, which would transport passengers directly to the airport terminals and facilities.[12]

Initially, Metro thought the K Line's Aviation/Century station would connect with the people mover (APM) with the intention that the APM would run along Century Boulevard. However, the APM plan approved in June 2014 called for it to intersect with the K Line at 96th Street, about half a mile to the north. This required Metro to design an additional station while the overall line was still under construction.[13] Later that year, Metro approved the planning and scoping of the new station, which was called Aviation/96th in planning documents but was ultimately designated LAX/Metro Transit Center station.[14] Official approval was given in December 2016, and construction began in 2021.[15][16]

A two level transit hub is currently under construction. Roof panels, walls, stairs, and concrete have not been completed yet.
LAX/Metro Transit Center station under construction in July 2023

Designed by Grimshaw Architects,[17] the LAX/Metro Transit Center station is slated to open in late 2024.[18] Due to construction delays, the connection to the LAX Automated People Mover will open later in December 2025.[3] As of January 2024, citing Metro’s June 2023 Schedule Update, the overall project is 71.1% complete and the primary station construction is at 58.3% completion.[19] Upon opening, the station will serve both the C and K lines.[5]

Plans show a parking facility would also be built adjacent to the station. However, construction of the structure may be delayed.[20] Various planned road improvements are shown as "not triggered" in Appendix B of the LAMP 2021 Annual Progress Report.[21]

Service

[edit]

Connections

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The station will replace the LAX City Bus Center and the Aviation/LAX station and is expected to be served by the following routes:[22][23]

Services from LAX/Metro Transit Center
Operator Route Bay Destination
Beach Cities Transit 109 9 Redondo Beach Pier
Culver CityBus 6 7 UCLA
Rapid 6
GTrans 5 10 Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station
Los Angeles Metro Bus 102 8 South Gate
111 13 Norwalk
117 12 Downey
120 11 Whittier
232 15 Long Beach
LAX Shuttle[a] M 1 Los Angeles International Airport
2
Santa Monica Big Blue Bus 3 4 & 5 Santa Monica
Rapid 3
Torrance Transit 8 6 Torrance

Station artwork

[edit]

This station will feature a sculpture designed by Glenn Kaino, an conceptual artist based in Los Angeles. Called The Distance of the Sun, the sculpture is made up of vessels joined together, creating a spiral pathway suspended in the air. These ships symbolize the universal dreams of spaceflight and represent the importance of collaboration and imagination. The piece will connect to the station's ceiling, making the ships climb to the heavens, referencing the short story The Distance of the Moon.[24]

Future Metro transit connections

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Metro has proposed to make this station the southern terminus for Phase 2 of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor. Metro is in the route planning stage for Phase 1 of the corridor as of 2024 with completion planned for around 2040. Metro has also proposed the LAX/Metro Transit Center station as the southern terminus for the Lincoln Boulevard Transit Corridor bus rapid transit line with a completion date of 2047. Both projects are funded by Measure M.[25][26][27]

[edit]
  • Annotated view of station site
    Annotated view of station site
  • Platform
    Platform
  • Mezzanine
    Mezzanine
  • Exterior
    Exterior

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sharp, Steven (April 26, 2021). "LAX Metro station slated to begin work in Fall 2021". Urbanize LA. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  2. ^ "Two big changes are coming soon to the C and K Lines Nov. 3". Instagram. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Fitch Downgrades LINXS (LAX People Mover Project) Sr Revs to BB+; Rating Outlook Negative". Fitch Ratings. January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  4. ^ @numble (July 8, 2024). "May 2024 status report on LAX Automated People Mover. 97.3% as of 5/25/24, +0.1% since 4/27/24. Contractor added 3 weeks to estimated service date (now 12/29/25 instead of 12/8/25)" (Tweet). Retrieved April 26, 2024 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ a b Hymon, Steve (August 18, 2016). "Subway turnback, Airport Connector receive state cap-and-trade funds". The Source. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  6. ^ Jager, Rick (June 21, 2021). "Groundbreaking held for Airport Metro Connector project". The Source. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Metro K Line: Crenshaw Corridor History and Resources". Metro's Primary Resources. September 17, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  8. ^ COASTAL CORRIDOR RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT NORTH SEGMENT (PDF). Metro (Report). Bechtel. August 1988. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Simon, Richard (August 12, 1995). "Is New Green Line a Road to Nowhere?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  10. ^ "LAWA Official Site | commuteLAX". www.lawa.org. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Crenshaw Transit Corridor Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)" (PDF). Metro (LACMTA). December 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  12. ^ Hymon, Steve (January 21, 2014). "And so it begins: ground is broken for 8.5-mile Crenshaw/LAX Line". The Source. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  13. ^ Hymon, Steve (June 26, 2014). "Metro Board approves new station at Aviation/96th as best option to connect to LAX people mover". The Source. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  14. ^ Hymon, Steve (June 18, 2018). "Report explains operating plan for Crenshaw/LAX Line and Green Line". metro.net. Archived from the original on November 25, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  15. ^ Hymon, Steve (December 1, 2016). "Final study OKd for new LAX transit station". The Source. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  16. ^ Jager, Rick (June 21, 2021). "Groundbreaking held for Airport Metro Connector project". The Source. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  17. ^ "Los Angeles International Airport – Airport Metro Connector / GRIMSHAW". grimshaw.global. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  18. ^ "K Line's Hyde Park Station dedicated to Crenshaw community and nearby neighborhoods". Metro The Source. August 7, 2022. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  19. ^ "Program Management Major Project Status" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 18, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  20. ^ "Landside Access Modernization Program". Los Angeles World Airports. September 7, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  21. ^ "Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP)". Los Angeles World Airports. June 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  22. ^ https://media.metro.net/board/Items/2024/09_september/20240913SBCitem8.pdf
  23. ^ Hymon, Steve. "More trips, less wait: service changes begin Sunday, December 15". Metro: The Source. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  24. ^ Hosseinzadeh, Maryam (September 29, 2021). "World renowned artist Glenn Kaino creating artwork for Airport Metro Connector". The Source. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  25. ^ "Monorail Or Heavy Rail? Metro Wants Public Input On Ambitious Project To Connect San Fernando Valley To LAX - CBS Los Angeles". www.cbsnews.com. December 7, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  26. ^ "Sepulveda rail transit corridor gets green light for pre-development work". Railway PRO. August 5, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  27. ^ Sharp, Steven (March 22, 2016). "Exploring Measure R2: The Next 50 Years of Los Angeles County Transit". Urbanize LA. Retrieved February 21, 2024.

Notes

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  1. ^ LAWA shuttles will operate until completion of LAX automated people mover
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Media related to LAX/Metro Transit Center station at Wikimedia Commons

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