Since the dismantling of the
Pacific Electric system, proposals to connect
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the regional rail network have circulated since the 1960s. During the planning of the
C Line (then known as the Green Line) in the late 1980s, Metro considered extending the line north from
Aviation/Imperial station to LAX. Proposed options included direct service to terminals or a station near Lot C, with connections via a
people mover. To preserve the option for a future extension, Metro constructed concrete ramps and stub tracks just west of the Aviation/Imperial station as part of the original line. However, the extension plans were canceled by 1994 following disagreements with the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local officials, some of whom preferred the line to serve residential communities. Some critics also accused
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) of opposing the extension to preserve parking revenue. In the 1990s and 2000s, planning for the north–south
K Line (originally the Crenshaw/LAX Line) However, the K Line did not initially include a dedicated airport station; instead, a separate project was launched in 2011 to evaluate connection options under the Airport Metro Connector (AMC) program. An Alternatives Analysis published in 2012 considered several proposals, including a direct Metro Rail extension into the terminal area and a connection to LAWA’s proposed Automated People Mover (APM), which had been outlined in the airport's 2004 Master Plan. The study identified the APM connection (Alternative A) as the most cost-effective option with minimal disruption to through-service passengers. The facility was envisioned as a multimodal hub featuring a dedicated station building, concourses, bus plaza, bike facilities, and public art. The station was initially referred to as
Aviation/96th Street during planning and scoping, which Metro approved later in 2014. It was officially renamed LAX/Metro Transit Center in June 2022 following public feedback. Environmental clearance was granted in 2016, and construction began in 2021. Designed by
Grimshaw Architects, the station was originally scheduled to open in late 2024 but was delayed to mid-2025. On April 24, 2025,
County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced the station would open on June 6, 2025. It officially opened to the public that evening following a media and VIP ceremony. As of 2025, the hub serves the C and K Lines, eleven bus lines, and the LAX Shuttle. A direct connection to
SkyLink is expected to open in June 2026. The total construction cost of the project was estimated at $900 million. == Service ==