LA Metro has officially opened the new Aviation/Century Station, which has connected the C and K lines and reconfigured both trains’ routes. 

The new station marks a major milestone in Metro’s transit expansion, according to the agency. The station, which is located at 5601 W. Century Blvd., not only connects Metro’s C and K lines but also “serves as a crucial link on the way to the upcoming LAX/Metro Transit Center.” 

Aviation/Century is the eighth station on the K Line and is the new endpoint for the C Line, which now runs between Norwalk and Aviation/Century. The K Line continues between Expo/Crenshaw and Westchester/Veterans, and between Aviation/Century and Redondo Beach, the new terminus for the K Line’s south segment.

I visited the new station on Tuesday, taking advantage of Metro’s free fare for Election Day.

I picked up the K line at Expo/Crenshaw, the northern terminus, and rode the train south to Westchester/Veterans stop, where the train currently ends.

Once the K line is connected via the upcoming LAX/Metro Transit Center, the K line will run uninterrupted from Expo/Crenshaw to Redondo Beach. In the meantime, riders can take the aforementioned C & K Line Link shuttle. 

Because I had my bike, I eschewed the shuttle for a short ride and, on the way, got a look at the under-construction LAX/Metro Transit Center, which will ultimately connect LAX to Metro’s network.

I made it to the new Aviation/Century station and found plenty of Metro ambassadors on-site who were very helpful in showing me around.

Metro has announced that it will be conducting train tests at various stations as it prepares to open the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station. Riders should be aware that they may hear both old and new station names during this testing phase.

During this period, Metro ambassadors will be available to answer questions, and there will be ample signage and announcements explaining the changes. 

The station is terrific — bright and shiny and new, with two big elevators that work. Sure, it’s the honeymoon phase, but it’s important to mark milestones and laud good work. Though there’s still plenty of work to be done on the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station, the new Aviation/Century stop is a step in the right direction. 

Tuesday’s visit at least gives me hope that, once the K line is fully connected and the Automated People Mover completed, we will finally have a high-quality public transit connection to LAX — something we should have had decades ago.