LAX/Metro Transit Center station

Last updated

LAX/Metro Transit Center Pictograms-nps-airport.svg
LACMTA Circle C Line.svg   LACMTA Circle K Line.svg  
LAX Metro Transit Center station aerial view Jan 2024 01.jpg
LAX/Metro Transit Center station under construction
General information
Other namesEast ITF (Intermodal Transportation Facility)
Aviation/96th Street
Location Los Angeles, California
Coordinates 33°57′02″N118°22′41″W / 33.95057123105048°N 118.37816699661327°W / 33.95057123105048; -118.37816699661327
Owned by Los 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 facilities Metro Bike Share
AccessibleYes
Architect Grimshaw Architects
Other information
StatusUnder construction [1]
Website metro.net/projects/airport-metro-connector
History
OpeningLate 2024 (Metro) [2]
October 30, 2025;18 months' time (2025-10-30) (APM) [3] [4]
Previous namesAviation/96th Street
Future services
Preceding station LAMetroLogo.svg 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
LAX/Metro Transit Center station

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 in late 2024 before the APM connection opens on October 30, 2025.

Contents

History

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 being linked, connecting the C and K lines to LAX. Aviation Metro Green Line Station 5.JPG
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 being linked, connecting the C and K lines 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]

LAX/Metro Transit Center station under construction in July 2023 LAX Metro Transit Center station construction July 2023 02.jpg
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 April 2025. [19] As of January 2024, the overall project is 71.1% complete and the primary station construction is at 58.3% completion. [20] Upon opening, the station will serve both the C and K lines. [21]

Plans show a parking facility would also be built adjacent to the station. However, construction of the structure may be delayed. [22] Various planned road improvements are shown as "not triggered" in Appendix B of the LAMP 2021 Annual Progress Report. [23]

Service

Station layout

L3
People Mover platform		Westbound← LAX Automated People Mover toward West CTA (West ITF)
Island platform, doors will open on the left
Eastbound LAX Automated People Mover toward CONRAC (Terminus) →
L2MezzanineFaregates, ticket machines, access to platforms
GStreet levelEntrance/exit, bus plaza, Metro Bike Hub, access to Aviation Bl.
Metro Rail platformWestbound/
Northbound		← LACMTA Circle C Line.svg  C Line terminating trains
← LACMTA Circle K Line.svg  K Line toward Expo/Crenshaw (Westchester/Veterans)
Island platform, doors will open on the left
Eastbound/
Southbound		LACMTA Circle C Line.svg  C Line toward Norwalk (Aviation/Century) →
LACMTA Circle K Line.svg  K Line toward Redondo Beach (Aviation/Century) →

Connections

The station will replace the LAX City Bus Center and is expected to be served by the following routes:

Services from LAX/Metro Transit Center
OperatorRouteDestination
Beach Cities Transit 109 Redondo Beach Pier
Culver CityBus 6 UCLA
Rapid 6
Los Angeles Metro Bus 102 South Gate
111 Norwalk
117 Downey
232 Long Beach
Santa Monica Big Blue Bus 3 Santa Monica
Rapid 3
Torrance Transit 8 Torrance

Station artwork

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

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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles International Airport</span> Airport serving Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Los Angeles International Airport is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan area in California, United States. LAX is located in the Westchester neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles, 18 miles southwest of Downtown Los Angeles, with the commercial and residential areas of Westchester to the north, the city of El Segundo to the south and the city of Inglewood to the east. LAX is the closest airport to the Westside and the South Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Metro Rail</span> Urban rail transit system

The Los Angeles Metro Rail is an urban rail transit system serving Los Angeles County, California in the United States. It consists of six lines: four light rail lines and two rapid transit lines, serving a total of 101 stations. It connects with the Metro Busway bus rapid transit system, the Metrolink commuter rail system, as well as several Amtrak lines. Metro Rail is owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E Line (Los Angeles Metro)</span> Light rail line

The E Line is a 22-mile (35 km) light rail line in Los Angeles County, California, running between Santa Monica and East Los Angeles. It is one of the six lines in the Los Angeles Metro Rail system and is operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harbor Subdivision</span> BNSF right of way in Los Angeles

The Harbor Subdivision is a single-track main line of the BNSF Railway which stretches 53 miles (85 km) between rail yards near downtown Los Angeles and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach across southwestern Los Angeles County. It was the primary link between two of the world's busiest harbors and the national rail network. Mostly displaced with the April 15, 2002 opening of the more direct Alameda Corridor, the Harbor Sub takes a far more circuitous route from origin to destination, owing to its growth in segments over the decades. The subdivision was built in this fashion beginning in the early 1880s to serve the ports and the various businesses that developed along it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C Line (Los Angeles Metro)</span> Light rail line

The C Line is a 19.3-mile (31.1 km) light rail line running between Redondo Beach and Norwalk within Los Angeles County, California. It is one of six lines forming the Los Angeles Metro Rail system and opened on August 12, 1995. Along the route, the line serves the cities of Downey, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Norwalk and Lynwood, the Los Angeles community of Westchester, and several unincorporated communities in the South Los Angeles region including Athens, Del Aire, and Willowbrook. A free shuttle bus to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is available at the line's Aviation/LAX station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aviation/LAX station</span> Los Angeles Metro Rail station

Aviation/LAX station is an elevated light rail station on the C Line of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. It is located over Aviation Boulevard, after which the station is named, near its intersection with Imperial Highway and south of Century Freeway in Los Angeles, California. It opened as part of the Green Line on August 12, 1995. The station was initially named Aviation Blvd/I-105, but in 2003, it was simplified and renamed Aviation/LAX to highlight its proximity to Los Angeles International Airport.

Century Boulevard is a major east–west thoroughfare in the southern portion of Los Angeles, California. Century Boulevard acts as a continuation of Tweedy Boulevard at Alameda Street in South Gate in its east end, and ends in the west at the passenger terminals at Los Angeles International Airport. Due to its correspondence with the airport, the road has been dubbed "The Gateway to Los Angeles".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K Line (Los Angeles Metro)</span> Light rail line

The K Line is a 5.9-mile (9.5 km) light rail line running north–south between the Jefferson Park and Westchester neighborhoods of Los Angeles, California, passing through various South Los Angeles neighborhoods and the city of Inglewood. It is one of six lines in the Los Angeles Metro Rail system operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA). It opened on October 7, 2022, making it the system's newest line.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sepulveda Transit Corridor</span> Proposed transit corridor

The Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project is a two-phased planned transit corridor project that aims to connect the Los Angeles Basin to the San Fernando Valley through Sepulveda Pass in Los Angeles, California, by supplementing the existing I-405 freeway through the pass. The corridor would partly parallel I-405, and proposed alternatives include heavy rail rapid transit or a monorail line connecting the G Line in the Valley to the D Line and E Line on the Westside, and the K Line near Los Angeles International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leimert Park station</span> Los Angeles Metro Rail station

Leimert Park station is an underground light rail station on the K Line of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. It is located underneath Crenshaw Boulevard at its intersection with Vernon Avenue in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westchester/Veterans station</span> Los Angeles Metro Rail station

Westchester/Veterans station is an at-grade light rail station on the K Line of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. It is located alongside Florence Avenue near its intersection of Hindry Avenue, located in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, but across the street from the city of Inglewood. The station serves as the temporary southern terminus of the K line until through-routing with the C Line commences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aviation/Century station</span> Future light rail station

Aviation/Century station is an elevated light rail station on the C and K lines of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. It is located alongside Aviation Boulevard above its intersection with Century Boulevard, located in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastside Transit Corridor</span> Future light rail line extension

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">K Line Northern Extension</span> Planned light rail transit corridor extension

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The Lincoln Boulevard Transit Corridor is a proposed 10-mile (16 km) bus rapid transit or light rail line in the public transport network of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Los Angeles County, California. It is planned to operate on a north to south route on Lincoln Boulevard between the C and K Line's LAX/Metro Transit Center station with the E Line's Downtown Santa Monica station on the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. A proposed completion date of 2047 for BRT and an unknown date for rail conversion. It is funded by Measure M and Measure R. The route will have signal priority at traffic lights and will have a dedicated right of way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LAX Automated People Mover</span> Future automated people mover system serving Los Angeles International Airport

The LAX Automated People Mover is an under construction automated people mover (APM) system that will serve the area around Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The system will be owned by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and operated by LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS). The line will run for 2.25 miles (3.62 km) and have six stations that connect the LAX Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility (ConRAC), the Los Angeles Metro Rail system, and the LAX West Intermodal Transportation Facility with the airport's central terminal area (CTA). The line was initially planned to open in 2023, but is now planned to open on October 30, 2025.

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References

  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. ↑ @numble (January 14, 2024). "January 2024 status report on LA Metro's LAX/Metro Transit Center (Airport Metro Connector). Construction is 71.1% complete" (Tweet). Retrieved January 20, 2024– via Twitter.
  3. ↑ "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 (March 26, 2024). "February 2024 status report on LAX Automated People Mover (SkyLink?). 96.8% complete as of 2/24/24, -0.01% since 1/27/24. Contractor added 5.5 months to planned service date. Now 10/30/25, instead of 4/14/25" (Tweet). Retrieved March 26, 2024– via Twitter.
  5. ↑ 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 "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. ↑ "Fitch Downgrades LINXS (LAX People Mover Project) Sr Revs to BB+; Rating Outlook Negative". Fitch Ratings . January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Program Management Major Project Status" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 18, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ "Landside Access Modernization Program". Los Angeles World Airports. September 7, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP)". Los Angeles World Airports. June 2022. Retrieved February 19, 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.

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