LAX : Going Public

There are a variety of ways to get to LAX using public transportation. Here are a few:

From the South Bay: Board the MTA Green Line train at any of its four stations between LAX and Redondo Beach. Ride to the airport’s Aviation station stop, a nine-minute trip from the Marine Ave. station in Redondo Beach, the farthest point south. From Aviation Station, take a free shuttle bus to LAX. Buses meet every train. Green Line trains run 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. One-way fare: $1.35.

From Santa Monica: Catch the Santa Monica Municipal bus (No. 3) at various stops. It travels south along Lincoln Blvd. to City Bus Center, just outside LAX at Parking Lot C. Free shuttle service to all airline terminals at City Bus Center. Estimated travel time from Fourth St. and Santa Monica Blvd. to City Bus Center: about 35 minutes. Service every 20-30 minutes, from about 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. One-way fare: 50 cents.

From downtown Los Angeles: Catch the MTA bus--Line 439--at One Gateway Plaza, adjacent to Union Station. It travels south through downtown with stops at major intersections, to the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10). Also stops at Fox Hills Mall on the way to the City Bus Center, just outside LAX at Parking Lot C. Travel time to the airport, about one hour. Service every 30 minutes during rush hours; about once an hour during off-hours. Buses run 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. One-way fare: $1.60.

From the San Fernando Valley and UCLA/Westwood: Catch the MTA bus--Line 561--along Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City, Van Nuys and Sherman Oaks, or at various points in UCLA/Westwood. Frequency is approximately once an hour. Travel time from Panorama City to City Bus Center, just outside LAX, about one hour, 45 minutes. One-way fare: $2.35 from Valley locations; $1.85 from the UCLA area.

From Downey/Norwalk: Board the MTA Green Line train at the Norwalk station at the intersection of the Century (I-105) and 605 freeways. Ride to the airport’s Aviation station stop, about 30 minutes. Take shuttle to LAX as per directions from South Bay area, above. One-way fare: $1.35.

For further information: MTA trains and buses, (800) COMMUTE; Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines, (310) 451-5444.

FACTOID

City officials are now at work on a master plan through 2015. Among anticipated changes: 4%-5% annual growth in domestic passengers and 10%-11% growth in international.

Source: City of Los Angeles Dept. of Airports