Downtown to Beverly Hills in 20 Minutes on Metro’s New D line extension.
Los Angeles Metro’s D Line is now extended from Koreatown all the way to Beverly Hills just in time for the FIFA World Cup, with three new stations at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega. The extension connects Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills in about 20 minutes.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced the opening of Phase 1 of the D line extension on May 8 at a press event. Throughout the morning, multiple speakers including Metro Board Chair Fernando Dutra, state Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, and Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins spoke on the necessity of the extension and its future capacity.
Speaking on the importance of the extension before the World Cup and Olympic Games, Dutra said, “traveling through Mid-Wilshire to experience the culture, cuisine and commerce across diverse neighborhoods will be easier, faster and more accessible. The opening of Section 1 of the D Line extension also brings us three stops closer to connecting Metro to the Westside, including the 2028 Olympic Village at UCLA, where the world’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes will reside.”
“That connectivity from Downtown L.A. to the westside will serve as a lasting legacy for all Angelenos,” he said.
Future phases, which will connect Downtown L.A. to UCLA, are slated to open in 2028 before the Olympic Games. The expansion is close by for Santa Monica College students commuting from Mid-City and Downtown, and those planning to transfer to UCLA.
During her speech, Wiggins said, “We together are trying to build something more. We want to make life easier for all Angelenos. We (at Metro) connect people to jobs, school and to each other. With every project like this, those relationships get stronger.”
"And people, they are responding. Ridership is rising on weekdays, it’s rising on weekends, for events and for everyday life. Because when we give people an option that works — they will use it,” Wiggins said.
Train rider Greg Share described riding the first train of the extension.
“It was very exciting, it was very packed. People were very enthusiastic that it’s opening up this whole corridor and excited for it to keep going and to keep expanding,” Share said.
The new stations are near multiple popular destinations, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the La Brea Tar Pits. The extension also improves access to historic communities such as Little Ethiopia and the Fairfax District.