LA Metro
LA Metro’s highly anticipated D Line Extension Section 1 will open at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, May 8, with subway service to three new art-filled stations at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega.
When it debuts, the D Line, LA Metro says, “will offer fast, frequent and high-capacity subway service connecting Union Station, the heart of downtown L.A., the Westlake District, Koreatown, the Miracle Mile and eastern Beverly Hills.” The D Line will often be quicker than driving and many riders on the pair of Metro bus lines that serve Wilshire—Lines 20 and 720—will find the subway to be faster, the agency noted.
To celebrate this long-anticipated project, rides across the Metro bus, rail, bike share and Micro system will be free from 4 a.m. Friday, May 8, through 3 a.m. Monday, May 11.
Section 2 of the D Line Extension will bring the subway to downtown Beverly Hills and Century City. Section 3 extends the D Line to Westwood Village (with access to UCLA) and a station next to the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, which provides care for 84,000-plus military veterans each year.
Sections 2 and 3 of the project are currently forecast to open in 2027.
More information is available here.
In related news LA Metro’s $9.7 billion proposed budget for FY2027 is now available, reflecting the agency’s “ongoing commitment to improving the customer experience, enhancing safety across the system, and maintaining clear and well-functioning services for daily riders.”
The budget (download below) will be considered by the Metro Board of Directors on May 28. Customers are encouraged to share their input at a public hearing on Thursday, May 21, at 10 a.m.
Highlight of this year’s budget include:
Public Safety
The FY27 Public Safety Resource Deployment Proposed Budget of $430.0 million is a 1.9% increase from the prior year and includes various efforts as described below.
Metro is reimagining public safety by implementing a multi-layered safety approach that combines traditional and care-based services. A comprehensive plan detailing the resource needs over the various phases of this strategy is being developed and will be brought to the Board separately for approval. To learn more about the Metro safety and security teams, click here.
Cleaning
The FY27 Proposed Budget allocates $311.0 million for cleaning efforts, reflecting a 2.2% or $6.7 million increase over FY26. This budget supports 1,264 staff dedicated to maintaining bus and rail vehicles, stations, stops and facilities. Below are the highlights:
- Bus: Daily cleaning; four terminals 7-days/week
- Rail: Daily cleaning; three end-of-line (EOL) cleaning shifts 7-days/week, continuing mid-line cleaning
- Stations: Rail custodial staff at 17 hot spots and support for D Line expansion
- Facilities: Graffiti control and abatement, pest/bird control, weed control, power sweeping, trash and vegetation removal
Transit Operations
The FY27 Proposed Budget allocates $2.99 billion for transit service, reflecting an increase of $83.3 million (2.9%) over the previous year.
This budget is built upon the service levels approved by the Board, which serve as the foundation for LA Metro’s operational costs. This funding, the agency says, “allows Metro to prioritize key service expansions—including the second section of the D Line rail extension—while continuing to advance the NextGen Bus Plan and sustain the flexible, on-demand Metro Micro service.”
In total, Metro will provide 8.8 million Revenue Service Hours (RSH) across bus, rail, and Metro Micro, representing a 1.1% increase in total service hours to better serve our riders and communities.
Through the Station Experience (SX) Program, LA Metro says it continues to prioritize community input by addressing the details that matter most to riders. The FY27 Proposed Budget allocates $29.6 million for SX initiatives, which includes the modernization of elevators and escalators and lighting improvements “to enhance safety and visibility.”
A key highlight of this year’s plan is the expanded rollout of more ADA-accessible Throne restrooms throughout the system, providing essential, clean, and mobile facilities for customers. Additionally, LA Metro is strengthening fare compliance through the installation of taller fare gates and the expansion of the TAP-to-Exit program, “ensuring a more secure and accessible environment across all stations.”
PANYNJ
PATH set a record for its highest single-day ridership since the COVID-19 pandemic on March 10, welcoming 270,062 passengers as riders took advantage of NJ Transit cross-honoring arrangements during the Portal Bridge cutover, the PANYNJ reported May 5. March 2026 total ridership reached 5.6 million passengers, representing 82% of pre-pandemic March 2019 volume.
First-quarter ridership totaled 14.5 million passengers, an 8% increase over the first quarter of 2025 and 75.2% of first-quarter 2019 volume. Winter storms in late January and late February as well as extreme cold temperatures constrained ridership during those periods, PANYNJ noted.
Average weekday ridership in the first quarter reached 199,096, a 10% increase from 2025. Average Saturday ridership of 98,080 represented a 2.3% increase over pre-pandemic March 2019. Average Sunday ridership of 64,615 declined 4.1% compared to the same benchmark period.
Northeast Corridor Commission
The Northeast Corridor Commission on May 5 announced the release of a new website designed to help FIFA World Cup fans and visitors navigate the Northeast region’s extensive rail network during a historic summer of major events.
The website provides essential information to help travelers plan trips across the Northeast Corridor (NEC) to reach FIFA World Cup matches and other major events during the Summer of 2026, including America 250 celebrations, Sail 250 events, and the MLB All-Star Game. The website’s features and resources include:
- Information about the NEC’s intercity and regional rail services and operators.
- Overview of the major summer 2026 events taking place in the Northeast U.S.
- Directions on how to use rail and local transit services to access major events.
- Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
TTC
The TTC has launched a pilot project that will make it easier for customers to find their way through some of the busiest subway stations during the FIFA World Cup.
The pilot introduces a new alpha-numeric identification system for station exits, transfer points, and other key locations. Each exit will now be marked with a simple code—such as “A” or “A 1”—designed to make subway stations “easier to navigate, improve transfers, and help visitors and daily riders move through the space more confidently.”
Six high-traffic stations were selected for the initial pilot: Bathurst, Dufferin, Bloor-Yonge, Union, St Andrew, and King. These stations are important transfer points and will be popular locations during the FIFA World Cup 2026TM.
The new system will use simple alphabetical zones and pedestrian icons to help customers pinpoint their street-level destinations. For example, at Bathurst Station, the Bathurst St. side becomes Zone A, while the Markham St. side becomes Zone B. Each zone is linked to nearby landmarks, street corners, and transit connections, making it easier for customers to choose the most appropriate exit.
Customers will begin noticing new yellow directional signage in stations beginning May 5, as well as updated signage listing local destinations and corresponding exit codes. This information will also be integrated in the TTC’s public data, allowing third-party transit apps to guide riders directly to a specific entrance/exit.
The pilot will operate from June to September 2026. During this period, the TTC will gather customer feedback and evaluate how well the new system improves navigation.
In related news, beginning Sept. 1, 2026, the TTC will introduce monthly fare capping. A new campaign promoting the initiative is rolling out this week.
Customers who pay their fare with PRESTO, debit or credit card, or mobile wallet, will ride free after 47 paid trips in a calendar month.
The program is part of the TTC’s 2026 operating budget. In 2027, the cap drops to 40 paid trips.
With the introduction of monthly fare capping in September, the Youth, Adult, Senior, and Fair Pass Transit Discount Program TTC Monthly Passes and the Youth and Senior 12-Month Passes will be discontinued as of August 31, 2026. Adults who subscribe to the 12-Month TTC Pass, and post-secondary students who purchase a TTC Post-Secondary Monthly Pass should continue to use these as these guarantee the lowest fare, according to the agency.
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