A groundbreaking ceremony may have occurred way back in June 2021, but with the Crenshaw/LAX Line now "substantially complete", Metro has finally started work on a $900-million transit hub which will connect the regional rail network to Los Angeles International Airport.

Bird's eye view of 96th Street station. Image courtesy of Grimshaw Architects.

The Airport Metro Connector station, located on a roughly 9.5-acre site at the intersection of Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street, will enable transfers between the Crenshaw/LAX and Green (C) Lines and LAX's new automated people mover system. The at-grade transit hub will include:

  • a 16-bay bus plaza with capacity for charging infrastructure;
  • a multi-level active transportation and bike hub;
  • a vehicle drop-off zone;
  • a customer service center;
  • public toilet facilities beyond the fare paid zone;
  • commercial space; and
  • a sculpture by Los Angeles artist Glenn Kaino, which will be incorporated into the station's hub structure.

Construction of station, which expected to open in 2024, could disrupt service on the as-yet unfinished Crenshaw/LAX Line, which is currently expected to begin serving passengers in late 2022 or early 2023. While trains will not be able to reach the new rail station during that time period, Metro intends to maintain access to the adjacent rail maintenance and storage facility during construction.

Construction kicks off for the LAX Metro stationUrbanize LA

Most recently estimated to cost $900 million, the budget for the AMC now far outstrips the pre-construction estimate of $637 million.  As of June 202, Metro had secured roughly $711 million in funding for the project, Proposition A and C funds intended to make up for the financing gap.