Los Angeles Metro D Line Extension Opens, Adding Three New Stations
The first phase of the Los Angeles Metro D Line (Wilshire subway) extension opened on Friday, adding three new stations along Wilshire Boulevard. The project, which cost $9.7 billion, covers 3.92 miles and includes stations at La Brea, Fairfax, and La Cienega.
Service Details
The extension runs from downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills. Travel time from Union Station to Wilshire/La Cienega is estimated at 21 minutes by train. Metro reports that the same trip by car takes approximately 45 minutes on average off-peak, and up to 70 minutes during rush hour.
Trains operate every 10 minutes during most of the day and every 20 minutes after 9 p.m. Service hours are from 4 a.m. to approximately 12:30 a.m. Free rides were offered over the weekend to celebrate the opening.
"This expansion gives Angelenos more options, aiming to convert occasional riders into regular customers." — Tim Lindholm, Metro Chief Program Management Officer
Background
Plans for a subway along Wilshire Boulevard date back to 1962, when California Governor Edmund G. Brown initiated soil tests for a route known as the "Backbone Route." The project faced multiple obstacles over 65 years, including:
- A 1985 methane gas explosion in the Fairfax District that led to a federal ban on tunneling in the area, which was repealed in 2006
- Competition among local jurisdictions for rail funding
- Engineering challenges, including construction near the La Brea Tar Pits where fossils were uncovered
Future Expansion
The full 9-mile extension to Westwood, including connections to UCLA and the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, is scheduled to open by fall 2027. The D Line is planned to serve as a central connection point for future transit expansions, including the K Line northern extension and the Sepulveda Transit Corridor.
"Once other lines are built, the D Line will multiply transit connections." — Joshua Schank, partner at InfraStrategies and former Metro innovation chief
Expert Perspectives
Transit expert Ethan Elkind, director of the Climate Program at UC Berkeley, noted that the Wilshire corridor is "the most densely populated corridor west of the Mississippi" and that rail lines generally achieve high ridership when serving dense areas.
Jacob Wasserman, research program manager at UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies, expressed concern that 20-minute waits during off-peak hours could deter riders.
Joshua Schank stated that congestion pricing could help shift drivers to transit, as driving and parking remain underpriced.
Ridership Context
- The A Line (Long Beach to San Gabriel Valley) reported nearly 17 million weekday riders per year in 2025.
- The B Line (downtown to San Fernando Valley) reported nearly 16 million weekday riders in 2024, down from over 30 million pre-pandemic.
Passenger Reactions
George Reed (34, lives near Wilshire/La Cienega) said he would consider using the line for events downtown if it is faster than driving on I-10, but would be deterred by waits over 10 minutes.
Autumn Nyiri (lives in Koreatown, works at Petersen Automotive Museum) plans to use the new stops regularly, as her workplace is across from the Wilshire/Fairfax station.
Helen Cnassi (70, lives near Wilshire/La Cienega) was uncertain if her husband would use it for his downtown commute, but noted that parking is "very messy downtown."
Rod Aissa (64, near Wilshire/Fairfax) said the extension makes Los Angeles "a fuller city."
One woman (anonymous) described Metro as "a total failure" and said the extension takes too long, noting it will be years before reaching the beaches.