Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)’s June ridership showed a dramatic increase in ridership on the Metro K Line due to the long-awaited opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center, the agency reported. 

Overall, system ridership experienced a slight decline of 6% compared to 2024 June ridership, better than initially anticipated at the start of the month, due to the increase in federal law enforcement activity across Los Angeles County, numerous protests resulting in station and road closures, and several days of curfew in downtown Los Angeles, as well as many Angelenos staying home.

LAX/Metro Transit Center Data

Data show that year-over-year ridership on the Metro K Line increased by 139.5% on weekdays, 198.9% on Saturdays, and 214.9% on Sundays, likely attributable to the opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center. 

The new station, which opened on June 6, provides a new transit connection to Los Angeles International Airport, one of the world's busiest airports. By providing a direct connection to regional transit, the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station expands options for airport-area employees and travelers, decreasing reliance on more costly alternatives, such as taxis, rideshares, or private vehicles, according to LA Metro officials.

The new station closes the final gap along the K Line, so it now runs continuously from the Expo/Crenshaw Station to Redondo Beach, bisecting the loop comprised of the A, C, K, and E Lines, providing improved connectivity regionally via the C, J, and E lines. 

It also extends the C Line, which previously terminated at Aviation/LAX Station, bringing it directly to the LAX/Metro Transit Center and enhancing airport access for riders across the region.

Total monthly ridership on the Metro K Line in June 2025 was 26.8% higher than in November 2024, the second-highest monthly total ridership in the line’s history. This further suggests that weekend and holiday travel in and out of LAX is the primary driver of Metro K Line ridership.

Overall System Ridership, Experience

In the days following the surge in immigration enforcement activity and the subsequent large protests, Metro experienced a 10% to 15% decline in ridership across the system. 

Over the month, the outlook improved; the system saw a total of 23,751,589 boardings on Metro bus and rail, which represents only a 6% year-over-year decrease in total boardings as compared to June 2024. During the same period, bus ridership declined by 5.9%, while rail ridership dropped by 6.5%.

Many factors influence ridership patterns, including closures due to construction, such as those required to connect the existing D Line to the first phase of the D Line extension that is expected to open later this year, or people changing their daily routines, such as to work from home or to transition to summer school.

Meanwhile, customer experience on Metro continues to improve, with results from a February 2025 rider survey showing 87% of customers are satisfied or very satisfied with the service. 

In that survey, 53% of riders reported seeing improvements in the transit system over the past year, with improved service quality and safety as the top reasons cited for the improvement.