By Transit California Staff
Los Angeles Metro’s LAX/Metro Transit Center Station Officially Opens, Connecting Communities; Bringing Faster, Easier Travel for Angelenos, Visitors
New Station Sets Stage for Metro, Los Angeles to Welcome World to FIFA World Cup 2026™, Super Bowl LXI, 2028 Olympic, Paralympic Games
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) celebrated the official opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center station with a ribbon cutting on June 6, 2025. Metro is now ready to welcome global fans headed to Los Angeles for major events, such as FIFA World Cup 26™, Super Bowl LXI and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games forever changing how car-centric Angelenos travel to and from LAX.
“The wait is over, Los Angeles,” said Metro Board Chair and LA County Supervisor, Janice Hahn. “At long last, we are getting a train to LAX. And when the Automated People Mover finally opens, we will truly have an international airport that connects people from inside the terminals to the world beyond through Metro.”
The grand opening of this station marks the eighth project completed in Metro’s ambitious Twenty-Eight by ’28 initiative, a comprehensive plan to enhance the region’s transit infrastructure in time for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The LAX/Metro Transit Center Station is poised to play a crucial role in facilitating the movement of athletes, officials and spectators during these global events.
The state-of-the-art transit center embodies a large-scale open station concept, with continuous swooping canopies guiding users’ views through large open spaces. The station reinforces intuitive wayfinding and walking access to buses and light rail trains, and the soon-to-be-opened Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Automated People Mover (APM).
“The opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center is a major step forward in how we prepare Los Angeles to welcome the world. This is about more than bringing people to and from the airport — it’s about building a more connected, reliable and climate-conscious city for Angelenos and for the millions who will visit in the years ahead,” said LA Mayor Karen Bass and Metro Board Member. “I want to congratulate LA Metro for this accomplishment and look forward to their continued partnership.”
Located at Aviation Blvd./96th St., the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station signifies the K line is a fully functional connection in Metro’s network. Connecting Metro’s C and K rail lines, six Metro bus lines and eight municipal bus lines, including Beach Cities, Big Blue Bus, Culver City Bus, GTrans, Torrance Transit and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) shuttles to and from the terminals. Metro Micro will also service this station. By providing a direct connection to regional transit, the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station expands options for airport-area employees and travelers and decreases reliance on more costly options, such as taxis, rideshares or private vehicles.
“Not only is LAX one of the busiest airports in the world, it’s also an important job center for Angelenos, particularly for residents of South Los Angeles,” said Holly Mitchell, LA County Supervisor and Metro Board Member. “The LAX/Metro Transit Center Station will serve an important role for visitors, residents, and our vital airport-area employees.”
The new station illustrates for Angelenos and the world that public transportation is the secret to bypassing traffic on their way to and from LAX, and that Metro, with one of the most ambitious capital project programs in the United States, is a reliable and comfortable way to travel across the county.
Featuring a bus plaza, bike hub and a customer service center, the station spans more than 1,100 feet from north to south. With the widest light rail platform in the Metro system, its two main levels provide a welcoming, convenient and secure connection point offering riders access to a wide array of destinations throughout LA County. In addition, this station features security coverage monitored 24/7 by security operations staff.
As part of Metro’s commitment to sustainable urban planning, the station also includes numerous environmentally friendly features such as energy-efficient lighting, landscaping with native plants, and plans for further expansion to accommodate future growth. This project represents Metro’s on-going efforts to enhance regional mobility, support green infrastructure and prepare Los Angeles for the future.
When the APM opens and connects to Metro in 2026, Angelenos and visitors alike will have a more direct, easier connection to Metro’s public transportation system, with a total of six stops – three in the terminal, one at the Metro/LAX Transit Center Station, one at economy parking and one at the Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility (ConRAC), which is directly across the street from the transit center. As riders await access to the APM, LAWA will provide shuttles every 10 minutes. The shuttle’s schedule will be based on the operating schedules for the C and K light rail lines and municipal bus routes serving the new station ensuring seamless travel to and from the airport helping to alleviate traffic congestion around LAX.
“For more than half a century, Angelenos have been dreaming about a rail connection to LAX airport – and that day has finally come. Our LAX/Metro Transit Center Station not only enhances the travel experience for millions of visitors to Los Angeles but also serves as a key piece of our ongoing efforts to build a more sustainable and efficient transportation network for our city,” said Stephanie Wiggins, CEO of Metro. “We look forward to welcoming millions of Angelenos and visitors to the LAX/Metro Transit Center in the coming months and years, and we can’t wait for the final link in the chain – LAX’s People Mover.”
This station features towering artwork at the center of the station by Los Angeles native and internationally renowned artist Glenn Kaino, The Distance of the Sun, which welcomes visitors to the arts and cultural capital of the nation. Commissioned by Metro Art, the suspended sculpture consists of a series of vessels for travel, both real and imagined, rafted together in increasing size to create a spiral pathway towards the sky above. The work is a meditation on collective ambitions and shared hope, acting as a bridge to the future created from the designs of the past.
San Diego MTS and Affirmed Housing Mark Topping Out of Transit-Oriented Development in Rancho Bernardo
SkyLINE affordable housing community scheduled to open by winter
In early June, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), Affirmed Housing, a leading provider of affordable and supportive housing throughout California, and regional housing leaders celebrated a key construction milestone for the SkyLINE Apartments at the Rancho Bernardo Transit Station. Construction crews recently completed the building’s structural framework (topped out) on the seven-story complex.
“Today is a great milestone to celebrate as this much needed housing project is now nearing completion,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember, District 3 at the celebration. “I’d like to thank the construction crews for making significant progress and keeping it all on track for opening this winter. SkyLINE isn’t just about housing; it’s about giving families a safe, stable place to live, grow, and thrive.”
The new mixed-use, transit-oriented, affordable housing development in San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo neighborhood will include 100 apartment homes and roughly 14,000 square feet of commercial space that will be Affirmed Housing’s new company headquarters. SkyLINE is expected to open by winter 2025-26.
“SkyLINE’s topping out marks an important step toward bringing much-needed affordable housing to the high-opportunity community of Rancho Bernardo. Projects like this demonstrate how thoughtful collaboration can create lasting value by connecting people to opportunity, services, and each other,” said Affirmed Housing President Jimmy Silverwood. “Our Affirmed Housing team appreciates our strong partnership with MTS and our shared vision of connecting housing with transit to create more sustainable, vibrant communities that enhance everyday lives. In addition to this project, our collaborative efforts gave rise to ShoreLINE, another beautiful, affordable community, and we are excited to continue our impactful MTS partnership with the Beyer Trolley Station and Spring Street Transit Center projects in the pipeline.”
SkyLINE is a GreenPoint rated development comprised of 99 apartments for individuals and families earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), and one unit earmarked for an onsite property manager. Apartments come in a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedrooms, ranging from roughly 557 square feet to approximately 1,113 square feet.
In addition to delivering much-needed affordable housing to the region, the building’s amenities will include a community room, a learning center, a tot lot and an outdoor courtyard. Residents will also have exclusive access to services and programs designed to support quality of life goals, such as health and wellness classes, financial literacy, parenting, food preparation, career building, job readiness (such as resume writing and interviewing skills), voter registration, and other enrichment activities.
SkyLINE utilizes a portion of an existing MTS parking lot that is in close proximity to several off-site amenities, including Rapid and local bus service, grocery stores, pharmacies, healthcare options, and the Rancho Bernardo library. To activate the underutilized land and maximize development potential, Affirmed Housing is engaged in a 99-year lease with the transit agency, MTS.
As part of the partnership, Affirmed Housing enhanced the property’s sewer and water systems and worked alongside MTS to meet their current and future parking needs for MTS riders. In addition to designated resident and office space parking, SkyLINE provides 84 parking stalls within its podium structure for MTS patrons, an adequate capacity for transit riders based on demand and the ability to effectively use the transit system.
Orange County Transportation Authority Delivers on Measure M Promises for 34th Consecutive Year
Independent oversight committee confirms continued taxpayer accountability and progress on transportation improvements across Orange County
For the 34th year in a row, the Measure M Taxpayer Oversight Committee has confirmed that the Orange County Transportation Authority is delivering on its promises to voters, responsibly investing in transportation improvements that enhance how people move throughout Orange County.
At its annual public hearing held in early June, the 11-member independent oversight committee found that OCTA is proceeding in accordance with the Measure M transportation investment plan. Originally approved by voters in 1990 and overwhelmingly renewed by nearly 70% of voters in 2006, Measure M is a half-cent sales tax that funds critical transportation infrastructure, services and programs throughout the county.
“Accountability and transparency are at the heart of OCTA’s mission to serve Orange County residents,” said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee, also the county’s Fourth District Supervisor. “The Taxpayer Oversight Committee plays a vital role in ensuring we deliver on the promises made through Measure M. It’s encouraging to know that for the 34th consecutive year, this independent committee has found that we are meeting our commitments and investing transportation funds responsibly to enhance mobility and quality of life across our communities.”
The Taxpayer Oversight Committee was established to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of Measure M funds. Its responsibilities include monitoring spending, reviewing proposed changes to the plan, and holding annual public hearings to confirm that OCTA is fulfilling its commitments.
Measure M is forecast to generate approximately $14 billion through 2041, supporting a balanced, sustainable transportation network. Funding is allocated as follows: 43% for freeway improvements, 32% for street enhancements, and 25% for transit projects. The plan also supports two environmental programs focused on preserving open space and reducing transportation-related pollution.
Key goals of Measure M include:
- Relieving traffic congestion
- Maintaining and improving transportation infrastructure
- Supporting community and regional transit options
- Synchronizing traffic signals across jurisdictions
- Providing cost-effective transportation for seniors and people with disabilities
- Preserving and restoring natural habitat
- Reducing pollution associated with transportation
Since its inception, Measure M has enabled more than $6 billion in transportation improvements, benefiting residents, commuters, and visitors throughout Orange County.
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit: "A great feat": BART constructs new power substation in one of its busiest stations
For the first time since the original BART system was built in the 1960s, BART has completed construction on a brand-new substation facility in the system’s core that is already providing benefits to riders.
Energized in late April, the state-of-the-art traction power substation at Civic Center Station increases the energy available to power BART trains in San Francisco by nearly 18%. (Note: 86% of BART’s contracted energy as of 2024 is greenhouse gas-free.)
“We haven’t done anything like this in the fifty-plus years since BART was constructed,” said Myat San, Chief Infrastructure Delivery Officer, who has been involved in the yearslong project from start to finish. “We’ve replaced substations but never built a facility at an already-constructed station. This is a great feat.”
The energization of the substation provides immediate, tangible benefits to BART riders in the substation’s operating area of Downtown San Francisco, the busiest section of the BART system.
“The substation increases reliability, redundancy, and operational flexibility, which are important for a system as large and complex as BART,” said Javed Khan, Group Manager, Capital Projects. “It also has modern features, including advanced monitoring and diagnostic capabilities.”
This means improved substation performance. If a problem does arise, BART and the Operations Control Center can quickly identify and pinpoint it and dispatch technicians to repair and restore the substation. BART can also source power from the new substation to keep trains running and mitigate system impacts, such as service delays.
“BART’s improvements to station lighting and fare gates are very visible, but with substations, you don’t see the benefits with your own eyes,” said San. “But even if you don’t see these substations, you experience them. They are the unspoken heroes of the system."
The increase in available power from the new substation will also give BART the future capability to run additional trains through the Transbay Tube as part of BART’s Transbay Corridor Core Capacity Program (TCCCP).
What exactly is a traction power substation? It's the equipment that converts energy from PG&E to the electrified third rail that provides the motive power for BART trains to run.
The Civic Center substation has two transformers, each pumping 5 megawatts and running in tandem. The project is one part of TCCCP, a series of strategic investments that will enable BART to increase the number of trains it operates at any given time. TCCCP will see the construction of five new substations, as well as an additional substation at BART’s Hayward Maintenance Complex. These will provide the energy needed to power additional trains, with the objective of running up to thirty ten-car trains per hour in both directions of the Transbay Tube. The project is funded by voter-approved Measure RR and Federal Transit Administration grants.
The project team chose to construct the first of the five new substations at Civic Center because Downtown San Francisco is the busiest part of the BART system with the highest train frequencies. But building a huge substation facility beneath Market Street during the few hours each night that the BART system is closed is as difficult as it sounds.
“We had to get huge components – switch gears, cabinetry, breakers, transformers – into a hole in the ground in the middle of one of the busiest streets in the Bay Area using a 106-foot crane,” said Khan. That’s a tall task.
Some of the equipment weighed 37,000 pounds, and all of it had to be carefully maneuvered into a 15-by-15-foot access hatch cut from Market St. into the station one 3,000-pound section at a time. In some instances, there was less than a foot of clearance between the equipment and the surrounding walls.
A stretch of Eighth St. intersecting Market St. was closed just for this day. Though the process of lowering the equipment took about 12 hours to complete, the project team had been preparing for the moment for more than a year. BART Communications chronicled the crane process in this 2022 article. Click the image above to watch a video about the project.
The planning and design phases began long before the crane rolled onto Market St. After an initial TCCCP study was conducted in 2015, a consulting firm was brought in to help assess and develop the engineering designs, with inputs, reviews, support, and coordination from BART. The design phase was completed in about 1.5 years, after which the construction contract was put out to bid (also known as the procurement phase). Then came material delivery and construction.
In project management terminology, the space selected for the substation is known as a brownfield, meaning the site was already developed. Brownfield projects pose unique and sometimes unexpected obstacles as engineers must retroactively design and construct within the constraints of the space. A greenspace is like a blank piece of paper; a brownfield space is a paint by numbers.
The age of the BART system adds extra challenges. Building codes and standards have changed considerably since the 1960s and 1970s.
Avineet Garg, the BART project manager, said the team had to secure numerous permits and coordinate with multiple organizations, including the City of San Francisco, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, PG&E, and local businesses.
An added obstacle: Many construction activities took place during what’s known as “the blanket,” or the three hours each night that BART trains aren’t running for passenger service.
“And once you build a new traction power facility, you can’t just start running it until it’s fully tested and confirmed ready to interconnect to the BART electrical grid,” said Juan Ulloa, Acting Superintendent of Power & Mechanical Maintenance.
Thus came the final phase of testing and commissioning. This took about six months, primarily to ensure the newly built systems and equipment were performing as per design and safely integrated with the existing systems and equipment. This culminated in the CPUC-administered, three-day confidence runs during passenger service.
Once the CPUC greenlighted energizing the substation, it started a job that it will hold for many, many years: powering BART trains that carry thousands of people where they need to go each day.
“The coolest part of this process is seeing the thing go from paper to constructed,” said Khan, reflecting on the project. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of this project from start to finish.”
More opportunities lay ahead for Khan and his colleagues. Next up: a brand-new substation at Montgomery St. Station. The project is moving swiftly towards construction completion and energization.
AC Transit: Board of Directors Adopts a Balanced Budget for FY 25-26
The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the approval of a fully balanced Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–26, adopted at its most recent public meeting.
Developing this balanced budget was a challenging and arduous undertaking. Yet through significant cost-cutting efforts, it maintains service at 85% of pre-pandemic levels, supports the launch of the all-new Realign bus network, prevents layoffs, particularly among our critical frontline workforce, and prioritizes the pursuit of sustainable funding sources to help avoid the anticipated fiscal cliff.
AC Transit’s Fiscal Crisis
The Board remains acutely aware that, beginning July 1, the start of the new fiscal year, all emergency federal and state relief funds related to COVID-19 will be fully depleted. As a result, AC Transit is facing a fiscal crisis, with a projected $41.5 million shortfall. However, what sets this moment apart from a true fiscal cliff is AC Transit's careful financial stewardship throughout the pandemic, which has allowed our transit district to navigate current challenges without immediate service cuts or layoffs.
"Reaching this milestone balanced budget included significant belt-tightening measures," said Board President Diane Shaw. "Through a thorough review of our finances, the Board worked diligently to ensure that every department, and every AC Transit employee, not only restricted but reduced expenses. This was no easy task, as everyone was asked to make cuts without directly impacting service levels or reliability."
This balanced budget was achieved through the prudent use of $41.5 million in reserves.
However, the Board recognizes that relying on reserves to cover operational expenses is merely a temporary bandage, not a cure. Fiscal Year 2026–27 presents an even greater challenge with a projected $72 million shortfall. Although AC Transit has carefully built-up financial reserves, those funds are projected to run out in the coming fiscal year, which brings the District perilously close to the fiscal cliff. Compounding this challenge, AC Transit’s four-year budget shortfall has surged by 55%, growing from a $149 million estimate last fall to $238 million based on updated revenue projections.
AC Transit’s Fare Adjustment, July 1
To help accomplish this balanced budget and confront the deepening fiscal crisis, AC Transit’s Board of Directors approved a modest fare increase in March as part of a broader, long-term financial strategy. The adjustment is expected to generate much-needed revenue to support daily operations and preserve essential bus service, all while aiming to minimize the burden on riders.
The fare adjustments will roll out in two phases: the first, effective July 1, 2025, will slightly raise the local adult cash fare by 25 cents, from $2.50 to $2.75, and the Transbay cash fare from $6.00 to $6.50.
A second 25-cent adjustment is scheduled for July 1, 2026, raising the local cash fare to $3.00.
Our transit district is helping riders and East Bay communities prepare for the changes online, on board, and through partnerships with community-based organizations. Riders are encouraged to fully utilize the Clipper® regional fare system, which provides half-off adult cash fares for eligible low-income riders through the Clipper® START program, as well as for youth, seniors, and riders with disabilities. For full fare details, please visit actransit.org/fares.
Launching the all-new Realign Bus Network, August 10
The adopted balanced budget includes $564.7 million in projected operating revenue and subsidies, offsetting $606.3 million in expenses and bridging the gap without sacrificing essential transit services. However, AC Transit continues to confront a sobering reality: ridership remains at just 85% of pre-pandemic levels. Since the shelter-in-place orders were issued in March 2020, approximately one in five riders have yet to return to our buses.
Although the past fiscal year saw 33.5 million boardings, a $3.3 million (8.9%) increase over FY 2024–25, ridership and farebox revenue growth have slowed significantly. This slowdown highlights the ongoing challenges AC Transit faces in rebuilding fare-based income and achieving long-term financial stability.
As a result, this balanced budget prioritizes protecting the Board-approved Realign Plan – the all-new bus network specifically designed for the post-pandemic East Bay. After two years of careful planning, extensive community engagement, and a strong commitment to equity, Realign is set to launch on August 10. The plan includes changes to 74 bus lines, tailored to better match riders’ current travel patterns and address the continuing effects of the pandemic. For more details, visit actransit.org/realign.
Avoiding Workforce Reductions
In addition to resource management, thoughtful workforce planning plays a crucial role in this balanced budget. By carefully controlling hiring throughout the coming fiscal year, the District aims to maintain stability and avoid layoffs, ensuring continued reliable service.
"AC Transit has not implemented a hiring freeze, recognizing that such a move would severely limit our transit district’s ability to respond swiftly to the challenges ahead," said General Manager Sal Llamas. "Instead, we are strategically managing any new hire, approving only those positions essential to maintaining operational readiness and ensuring service continuity in the coming fiscal year."
Prioritizing the Pursuit of Sustainable Funding Sources
The Board of Directors is also supporting and seeking amendments for Senate Bill 63 (SB 63), a proposed November 2026 ballot measure by State Senator Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguin that would establish a sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties, with an option for San Mateo and Santa Clara counties to participate.
AC Transit is taking additional steps to close the fiscal gap, including considering a state-funded bridge loan. If approved in its current form, the bridge loan proposal would unlock $750 million in state funding for AC Transit, BART, Muni, and Caltrain, providing critical financial support to the region’s largest transit agencies. Loan terms, including eligibility, repayment conditions, and expiration, are anticipated to be defined in future legislation.
Importantly, this approved Capital Budget lays the groundwork for AC Transit’s continued state of good repair. Approximately $25.3 million is allocated to meet the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) mandates, ensuring our bus fleet remains safe, reliable, and capable of providing sustainable transit services despite fiscal uncertainties.