The first phase of the long-awaited Metro D Line subway extension will open May 8, bringing three new underground stations to the Mid-Wilshire corridor and linking Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills by rail for the first time.
Metro Board Chair Fernando Dutra announced the opening date, confirming the 3.92-mile Section 1 expansion will carry passengers west from the existing Wilshire/Western station in Koreatown through Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District and Carthay Circle. The three new stations — at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega — will give riders a seamless, single-seat trip from Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to the gateway of Beverly Hills in approximately 20 minutes with no transfers.
“Traveling through Mid-Wilshire to experience the culture, cuisine and commerce across diverse neighborhoods will be easier, faster and more accessible,” Dutra said. “That connectivity from Downtown LA to the westside will serve as a lasting legacy for all Angelenos.”
The opening arrives more than three years behind the project’s original 2023 target and roughly $700 million over the initial $2.8 billion Section 1 budget, which now stands at $3.51 billion. The extension is part of Metro’s Twenty-Eight by ‘28 initiative, a sweeping effort to complete major transit projects before Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Three New Stations, Dozens of Destinations
Each of the three new stations anchors a distinct cultural and commercial hub along one of the region’s busiest corridors.
The Wilshire/La Brea station serves the western edge of Koreatown and Hancock Park, offering rail access to the Korean Cultural Center, the Marciano Art Foundation, the Ebell Theater and several well-known restaurants. The Wilshire/Fairfax station sits at the heart of what Metro is calling “Museum Row,” providing access to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Petersen Automotive Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits, Craft Contemporary, The Original Farmers Market and The Grove. The station also borders Little Ethiopia, Park La Brea and the historically Jewish Fairfax District.
The westernmost stop, Wilshire/La Cienega, marks the entry to Beverly Hills and the stretch of upscale dining known as “Restaurant Row,” including the original Lawry’s The Prime Rib, as well as the Beverly Center shopping complex.
All three stations will be fully ADA accessible and include commissioned artwork through Metro Art reflecting the character of the surrounding neighborhoods. Security will include 24-hour coverage, transit security officers, train-riding security teams and surveillance cameras throughout, along with taller fare gates equipped with motion sensors and anti-evasion technology.
Section 1 was funded primarily through Metro’s 2008 Measure R transportation sales taxes. Local sales tax revenue helped secure federal matching funds including a $1.25 billion Full Funding Grant Agreement, $66.4 million in supplemental New Starts funds and a $749.3 million TIFIA loan.
A Long Road Through Mid-Wilshire — and Through Court
The D Line extension’s path was not without controversy. Beverly Hills mounted one of the most expensive municipal legal campaigns in recent Southern California transit history over Metro’s plans to tunnel beneath Beverly Hills High School. The Beverly Hills Unified School District filed its first lawsuit in May 2012, citing concerns about methane gas, seismic risks and terrorism. The city itself filed a separate suit in February 2013.
Local officials led a “Stop the Purple Threat” campaign and gathered more than 5,300 signed petitions urging federal officials to withhold funding for the project. However, Metro prevailed at every turn. Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled for the agency in April 2014, and a federal judge issued summary judgment for Metro in May 2020. In a July 2022 eminent domain trial, BHUSD sought $53.8 million for subsurface tunnel easements; the jury awarded $1,046,610. The district’s total legal spending exceeded $20 million, much of it drawn from school improvement bonds. Tunneling under the campus was completed without incident.
By 2026, the relationship between the city and Metro has shifted considerably. The two now describe themselves as partners. Beverly Hills conducted an emergency drill with Metro at the La Cienega station in January and hosted a community meeting in February, with another scheduled for March 11 at Beverly Hills City Hall. Current city concerns have turned from blocking the subway to managing its arrival — specifically, the effects of La Cienega serving as a temporary end-of-line station until Section 2 opens in spring 2027.
“Ride the D” Goes Viral
The May 8 announcement set off more than construction timelines — it ignited a viral moment for Metro’s merchandise team.
Within hours of the opening date being made public, Metro’s online store released a line of “Ride the D” T-shirts and crop tops, priced at $20 and $21 respectively. The agency’s social media accounts leaned into the double entendre. A post on X reading “Give the gift of the D before opening day 5.8.2026!” drew more than 400,000 views within roughly 24 hours. Metro’s Instagram account declared simply: “The D is coming!”
The initial stock sold out overnight. Metro restocked by approximately 2 p.m. the following day, but the restocked supply also appeared to sell out quickly, with the unisex T-shirt listed as unavailable on Metro’s online shop as of early March.
Two More Sections Still to Come
Section 1 is the first of three phases making up the full 9-mile D Line extension, which will ultimately connect Downtown Los Angeles to Westwood at a total projected cost approaching $9.5 billion — up from an original estimate of roughly $8.2 billion.
Section 2, spanning 2.6 miles and adding stations at Beverly Drive and Century City, is approximately 83 percent complete and targeted to open in spring 2027 at a cost of roughly $2.9 billion. Section 3, covering 2.5 miles to stations at Westwood/UCLA and Westwood/VA Hospital, is about 75 percent complete and is targeted for fall 2027 at approximately $3.3 billion. Contractor Tutor Perini/O&G is handling both remaining sections; Metro temporarily halted their work for three weeks in October 2022 after recording more than 50 injuries.
All tunneling across the entire extension was completed April 2, 2024. When fully built out, Metro projects the line will carry approximately 78,000 daily riders, with a direct Westwood-to-Downtown trip taking about 25 minutes.
“The stations are filled with beautiful artwork making the journey to one’s destination an experience in itself,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy and discover the vibrance of mid-Wilshire without the traffic.”
The Westwood/UCLA station is slated to serve the 2028 Olympic athlete village, with Metro projecting the full extension will be operational roughly six months before the July 2028 Olympics opening ceremony.
editor@smdp.com