For many travelers arriving at LAX and heading into downtown Los Angeles or nearby neighborhoods, the trip was often slowed by heavy traffic. With the summer opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station, however, the city’s K Line now completes a vital link in the LAX Metro network, creating a more reliable, car-free option for airport access.
© Jason O’Rear
The new station connects Metro’s C and K rail lines and closes the final gap along the K Line, supporting Los Angeles’ efforts to reduce roadway congestion around the airport and offer an affordable alternative to taxis, ride-hailing services and private cars. Forecasts estimate roughly 5,000 daily boardings by 2035, underscoring the station’s role in improving mobility and easing traffic near LAX.
Designed by Grimshaw, with Gruen Associates as architect of record and landscape architect and Arup as the engineering partner, the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station sits at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street. It is part of the broader Landside Access Modernization Program at LAX and establishes a fully intermodal arrival point that better links the airport to the region.
© Jason O’Rear
The station includes a bus plaza, an integrated bus hub and a customer service center, stretching more than 1,100 feet from north to south. Featuring the widest light rail platform in the Metro system, its two main levels create a welcoming, secure interchange that gives riders straightforward access to destinations across LA County.
Seamless connections between modes guided the station’s design. Skylights, sweeping canopies and glazed screens foster a light-filled, open environment that supports intuitive wayfinding and a comfortable passenger experience.
That human-centered approach continues inside, where broad above-grade concourses are bathed in natural light. At ground level, bus bays sit within a landscaped public plaza tucked between bus canopy structures, making transfers and short waits more pleasant.
© Jason O’Rear
Built on a former industrial site, the station leverages Southern California’s mild climate with passive design strategies that enhance comfort: shading canopies, daylighting through skylights and opportunities for natural ventilation. The design anticipates future needs with easily maintained photovoltaic panels in surrounding landscape areas and infrastructure provisions for future electric bus charging. The project is pursuing LEED Gold certification.
“The Metro Transit Center Station transcends the typical function of a transit hub, emerging as a significant civic landmark and gateway to and from the city’s transport network,” said Andrew Byrne, managing partner at Grimshaw. “As a center of multi-modal activity, the station demonstrates how thoughtful infrastructure can spur economic vitality, improve equity and enhance quality of life as Los Angeles moves toward a more sustainable, connected future.”
© Jason O’Rear
Public areas — including the plaza, a mezzanine concourse and the bus hub — are designed to offer moments of respite within this transitory setting, complemented by integrated artworks. Outside, drought-tolerant native plantings enhance biodiversity and create a more pleasant urban environment around this transit-oriented destination.
The LAX/Metro Transit Center Station will significantly improve travel for visitors attending major upcoming events in Los Angeles, such as the FIFA World Cup 2026, Super Bowl LXI and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, by providing a direct, efficient link between the airport and the city.