California's Hated Airport Finally Got A Metro Stop And Passengers Are Literally Cheering

If you were to name some popular U.S. airports that are serious nightmares for travelers, chances are you'd mention Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This is simply because LAX is one of the busiest airports in the world, coupled with the chaotic, overwhelming traffic conditions surrounding the airport that travelers have to deal with. It is difficult to access by train, and you could easily waste hours just trying to get in or out of the airport. Fortunately, there's some good news, as LA's transportation authority recently opened a new metro station and transportation center right near the airport, giving travelers reasons to smile.

The LAX/Metro Transit Center station opened on June 6, 2025, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by officials and residents all celebrating the news. A video by Redditor Santilmo captured the arrival of the second train into the new station, "welcomed by folks from the first arrival," showing passengers and officials cheering, clapping, throwing fists up jubilantly, and recording the exciting moment. Redditor MetroALine replied: "I was on the first C train arriving. Was cool to see all the people cheering!" Metro Los Angeles also shared an Instagram video with the caption "How life feels now that you don't have to spend $80 on an Uber to LAX," showing passengers literally dancing and jumping, as many had their phones in hand to capture the first trains arriving at the new station. 

The new center is located between Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street and directly links Metro's C (green) and K (pink or Crenshaw) lines to LAX — as well as 14 different bus lines. The station is located just outside LAX, so there's a free shuttle taking travelers to the airport. People are excited to finally have a direct public transportation option to this busy, hard to reach airport. 

Boarding the C or K Metro Line takes you straight to the LAX/Metro Transit Center. From there, you can get on one of the free shuttles, which run every 10 minutes to all the airport terminals, daily between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. The shuttle, "Took about 10 min from Tom Bradley [terminal] and was PACKED, so hopefully they run more shuttles," said Redditor tmoore4000. "Transfer at the Transit Center was super easy."

The new station is also ADA compliant, with lots of elevators and ramps to make accessibility easier. This hub will also eventually feature a Rental Car Center, which will accommodate all the different car rental companies in one place. For many who either want to stop spending so much on Uber and other ridesharing services to LAX, or who dread the LA traffic, this free shuttle together with the metro sure makes a big difference. "It's clutch for tourists like me who want to stay at a more affordable hotel by the airport," said u/kmelby33. "Last time, we had to Uber to the Westchester train stop ... Now, we can walk to the Mariposa station, and we are set."

In fact, everything that's been rolled out so far is only phase one. There are plans to introduce an Automated People Mover (APM) by 2026, which will make things even easier. The APM will link the LAX/Metro Transit Center directly to all airport terminals, meaning that shuttles will phase out eventually. Metro and Los Angeles World Airports (which is building the APM) are hoping these services will be available before the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, major events that will bring many more tourists to Los Angeles. 

As well as convenience, one of the biggest upsides of this new metro connection is its affordability. For a one-way Metro fare, you'll only have to pay $1.75. And that includes free transfers for up to two hours on trains or buses going the same direction. "Jokes aside, $1.75 is a super deal compared to nearly every other U.S. metro system," said u/Pasadenaian. Supporting this, u/Delikkah added, "Meanwhile here in [San Francisco] I'm paying $2.85 for a single bus ride after they've increased the price TWICE this year."

To make your payment, you can use a funded TAP card, or pay digitally by using the TAP app or Apple Wallet on your phone. And as u/tatobuckets puts it, "Digital TAP card in apple wallet and google pay is free! Just load it up." Making a payment is as easy as holding your phone screen or TAP card near the TAP card reader on a bus or train, and just wait a few seconds for transaction confirmation.

Although the new LAX/Metro Transit Center station may require some getting used to, it definitely gives peace of mind, as you may more accurately predict your arrival time and plan your movement more smoothly. In addition to all these benefits, there's also an environmental angle to this new development. With more people hopping on public transportation instead of personal cars and rideshares, there is less traffic and congestion around this busy area, which also means fewer carbon emissions and less noise and air pollution. By the time the Automated People Mover becomes available, everything will be even better for accessing the most filmed airport in the U.S.