Everything You Need to Know About the New Metro D Line Subway Extension Opening
Metro’s New Subway Extension Opens Friday, Connecting Los Angeles to Beverly Hills
A new chapter in Los Angeles public transportation begins Friday with the launch of the much-anticipated D (Purple) Line subway extension. This extension adds three new stations along the Mid-Wilshire corridor, enhancing rail service westward from Koreatown.
The grand opening, set for 9:30 a.m. on the rooftop of the Petersen Automotive Museum, will mark the beginning of passenger service at 12:30 p.m. The new stops at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega will provide a direct rail link from downtown Los Angeles to the edge of Beverly Hills. Notably, the Wilshire/La Cienega station will restore rail passenger service to Beverly Hills for the first time since the Pacific Electric Railway ceased operations on September 26, 1954.
Transit officials anticipate that this expansion will significantly improve travel times along Wilshire Boulevard, one of the region’s busiest corridors. Trips from Union Station to the new western terminus are expected to take approximately 20 minutes without transfers. The nearly four-mile extension traverses neighborhoods such as Hancock Park, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle, connecting riders to key cultural and commercial locations like Museum Row and the La Brea Tar Pits.
Looking ahead, the second phase of the subway extension is tentatively slated to open in spring 2027, adding stations in Beverly Hills and Century City, while the third phase, set for fall 2027, is planned to include stations at UCLA and the VA hospital. Each station will feature public art installations, full accessibility, and enhanced security measures, including surveillance systems and transit personnel. The overall cost of this expansion is estimated to approach $10 billion.
Community Activation Initiatives
In conjunction with the subway launch, Metro has announced a series of community events and activities designed to promote ridership and support local businesses. A three-month pilot program will activate the new stations with daily offerings at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega.
Planned activities include morning coffee carts, weekly farmers markets, and cultural programming. Local vendors are expected to operate coffee carts during weekday mornings, while both the Wilshire/La Brea and Wilshire/Fairfax stations will host farmers markets weekly. Additional programming may feature free salsa dance classes, temporary pickleball courts, and events supporting businesses from the nearby Little Ethiopia district.
Metro officials noted that similar initiatives have been successfully implemented at other stations in recent years, fostering community engagement through events and night markets.
