The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has confirmed that Section 1 of its D Line Subway Extension Project will open to passengers on 8 May.
The 3.92-mile extension will continue west from the current Wilshire/Western terminus in Koreatown, running beneath Wilshire Boulevard through Mid-Wilshire and into Beverly Hills. Three new underground stations have been constructed at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega.
Each of the new stations will serve established neighbourhoods and cultural destinations along Wilshire Boulevard
© LA Metro
The project forms part of Metro’s Twenty-Eight by ’28 programme, a series of transport schemes scheduled for completion ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics and the 2028 Summer Paralympics.
The extension will improve links between central Los Angeles and the westside, including access towards the Olympic Village planned at UCLA. The additional stations bring the rail network closer to a direct connection between Downtown Los Angeles and the westside corridor.
A through journey from Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to Wilshire/La Cienega in Beverly Hills is expected to take around 20 minutes without the need to change trains.
Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said:
Angelenos and visitors alike will love the extended service from Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills, delivering greater access to the iconic and culturally diverse communities, institutions and destinations that define the deep history along Wilshire Boulevard. The stations are filled with beautiful artwork making the journey to one’s destination an experience in itself. I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy and discover the vibrance of mid-Wilshire without the traffic.
Funding for Section 1 has come primarily from Measure R, a half-cent sales tax approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2008. The scheme also secured federal support, including a 1.25 billion USD Full Funding Grant Agreement, 66.4 million USD in supplemental New Starts funding and a 749.3 million USD loan through the federal TIFIA credit programme agreed in 2014.
Further phases of the D Line extension are due to continue west towards Century City and Westwood in the coming years. The completed route will expand rail capacity along one of the region’s busiest corridors and provide additional options for travel between central Los Angeles and the westside.