LAX Metro: the Connections to the City of LA
For the time being, Los Angeles International Airport is linked to LA via a light metro line, and even this connection isn’t direct. Verily, a free airport shuttle bus travels from LAX to Aviation/LAX Station, the Metro C Line’s Station.
The Future Plans
As part of the big renovation program of LAX International Airport, a new station will be constructed near Los Angeles Airport, becoming a major area’s bus and light rail hub. The new station will be named LAX/Metro Transit Center Station (also known as Aviation/96th Street Station during its construction process). Once the station is put in operation, it will serve both Metro C and K Lines. What’s more, the automated people mover -scheduled to be added to the LAX ground transit system- will efficiently connect LAX/Metro Transit Center Station to all the airport’s terminals.
Our Tip: Currently, LAX passengers can catch the Metro K Line using the bus connection from Aviation/LAX Station to Westchester/Veterans Station.
The Current Connection to Aviation/LAX Station
The automated people mover project hasn’t yet been completed. Thus, for the moment, LAX passengers can take the free Shuttle G departing from every terminal with Aviation/LAX Station as its destination. You’ll easily spot the shuttle’s stops as they are indicated by the Pink LAX Shuttle signs outside the Arrivals hall of each terminal. Overall, shuttles run every 15-20 minutes, adjusted to the Metro C Line’s (the Green Line) timetable. Hence, routes are scarcer from 01:00 am to 04:00 am. You can expect a 15-minute ride from LAX terminals to the light rail station.
The Metro C Line – The Green Metro Line
The Metro C Line connects Redondo Beach to Norwalk, also calling at Aviation/LAX Station. Although it serves many LA suburbs and districts (from Downey, El Segundo, Hawthorne, and Norwalk to Lynwood, Westchester, and many South LA areas), it doesn’t reach the city center. Still, it provides connections to other bus and rail lines. Hence, LAX passengers wishing to travel via the metro and heading to downtown LA can catch the Metro C Line and hop on another metro or bus route to get to their journey’s end. Please note that the Green Line is a light rail line, meaning that it mostly runs above the ground (in contrast to the faster subway lines running exclusively underground). Still, it is the fastest LA’s metro line.
Our Tip: Although pickpocketing incidents aren’t a widely common phenomenon in the Green Metro Line, they do exist. Thus, you should always keep an eye on your personal belongings.
The LAX Metro Line’s Timetable
Metro C Line runs from 03:49 am to 00:08 am. What’s more, its routes are the same no matter the day of the week. That being said, its routes don’t change on Saturdays and Sundays. However, timetable changes may occur on public holidays. Overall, the metro operates at a 10-minute frequency during rush hours and every 12-15 minutes at other times.
LAX Metro Ticket Fares and Prices
A LAX metro ticket costs as much as 1.75$/1.64€ no matter the disembarking stop. Moreover, passengers are free to use other metro lines for a 2-hour period of time. As far as payment methods are concerned, you’ll have to own a TAP Card to pay for your metro fares. A TAP Card is a reusable card that costs 2$/1.88€ (plus taxes) and can be bought from the rail station’s automatic vendors. Alternatively, you can get it online or through the relevant app. TAP Cards can be reloaded using the same automatic machines, online, through the authorized vendor locations, and by calling the TAP Customer Service.
If you intend to use the LA public transit network for the vast majority of the journeys during your stay, you’ll be highly interested in the fare-capping system applied for all metro riders. Passengers are charged up to a maximum amount of money for their metro rides. Specifically, the 1-day cap is 5$/4.70€, and the week’s cap is 18$/16.90€. Once paying that amount of fare, all other rides within the 1-day or 7-day time are out of charge.
FAQs
Does the metro go to Los Angeles Airport?
The Metro C Line (the Green Metro Line) links LAX Airport to LA, traveling from Redondo Beach to Norwalk and making a stop at Aviation/LAX Station. However, Line C doesn’t reach downtown LA.
How to get to metro from LAX?
The Aviation/LAX Station isn’t to be found inside the Los Angeles airport complex. Thus, passengers have to catch the free airport shuttle G, which passes through all terminals (its stops are to be found outside the Arrivals level, marked by the Pink LAX Shuttle signs). The G shuttles operate at a 15-20-minute frequency and their timetable is based on the metro routes. In any case, they reach the rail station in about 15 minutes.
Is the LAX shuttle free?
TThe LAX shuttle (G Shuttle) links all Los Angeles airport terminals to Aviation/LAX Station, the station serving the Metro C Line. Hence, no matter the landing terminal, LAX passengers can catch the shuttle and reach the rail station in about 15 minutes. Fortunately, the airport shuttle is complimentary, meaning that rides from and to the Aviation/LAX Station are free of charge.