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Section 1 D Line Subway Extension Delivers a One-Seat Ride through Mid-Wilshire Connecting Riders to Jobs, Museums, Dining
Mid-Wilshire made a giant public transit leap forward when Metro celebrated the official opening of Section 1 of the D Line Subway Extension with a grand opening event today. Riders can now go west beyond the Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, with service to neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District and Cathay Circle into Beverly Hills in around 21 minutes.
“It’s finally opened! LA county residents are now connected from Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills with three new beautiful underground stations making the trip through Mid-Wilshire to experience the culture, cuisine and commerce across diverse neighborhoods faster, easier and a lot more accessible,” said Fernando Dutra, Metro Board Chair. “Today we showed what’s possible when residents, community leaders and local, state and federal government agencies work together in a shared vision to improve the region’s mobility.”
The only new subway opening in the United States this year, the D Line Extension represents one of Metro’s top transit priorities and a historic milestone for Los Angeles, with Sections 2 and 3 set to open in 2027.
“For weeks, the D Line has been the talk of LA,” said Lindsey P. Horvath LA County Supervisor and Metro Board Member. “It’s clear Angelenos are ready for the D for what it delivers: less time in traffic, stronger local businesses, and easier access to jobs, school, healthcare, and the cultural institutions that make the Westside such a vital part of Los Angeles.”
The opening of Section 1 of the D Line Extension transforms the way many riders will experience the Metro system, providing a seamless, single-seat ride from Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to La Cienega in Beverly Hills in around 21 minutes. Riders will now have access to three new underground stations:
- Wilshire/La Brea ishome to the western edge of Koreatown and Hancock Park, providing access to entertainment and cultural institutions including the Korean Cultural Center, Marciano Art Foundation, El Rey Theater and Ebell Theater as well as notable restaurants Republique and Sycamore Kitchen.
- Wilshire/Fairfax is home to the Miracle Mile and “Museum Row” – a culturally diverse corridor that includes The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, The Petersen Automotive Museum, Craft Contemporary and the La Brea Tar Pits. It is central to neighborhoods including Little Ethiopia, Park La Brea and the historically Jewish Fairfax District. It also is a conduit to two iconic shopping and entertainment destinations: The Original Farmers Market and The Grove.
- Wilshire/La Cienega is the entry toBeverly Hills and “Restaurant Row,” which features upscale, diverse and iconic restaurants including the original Lawry’s The Prime Rib, Saban Theater, Fine Arts Theater, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, as well as the Beverly Center shopping destination.
“Los Angeles spent the last century building Wilshire Boulevard around cars. Now we’re building for people,” said Katy Yaroslavsky, Metro Board Member and LA City Council Member. “The D Line Extension is reshaping one of Los Angeles’ most important corridors. As these stations open from Miracle Mile to Century City and Westwood, we have an opportunity to create greener, safer, more walkable neighborhoods where more people can live close to transit. In my roles on the Metro Board and City Council, I’m focused on making sure we fully realize the potential of this investment.”
These new Metro stations themselves are the newest museum destinations to join Museum Row. Riders will be greeted by large-scale, architecturally integrated artworks by renowned contemporary artists Mariana Castillo Deball, Eamon Ore-Giron, Ken Gonzales-Day, Todd Gray, Karl Haendel, Soo Kim, Fran Siegel, Susan Silton, and Mark Dean Veca. Artworks were commissioned by the agency’s Metro Art program, which worked closely with curators from leading Los Angeles museums and cultural organizations.
The full D Line Extension will be a critical connection for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games with its stop in Westwood and the athlete village at UCLA.
“Today marks a transformative moment for Los Angeles. The opening of Section 1 of the D Line Extension is more than a transit project — it is a bold investment in our people, our neighborhoods, and our future. By connecting Downtown to the Westside, we are breaking down barriers, expanding opportunity, and building a city that is more united, accessible, and prepared for generations to come,” said LA Mayor Karen Bass and Metro Board Member. “I congratulate LA Metro on this historic achievement and on delivering infrastructure that will move our economy forward, strengthen our communities, and ensure that every Angeleno has greater access to jobs, education, and opportunity.”
Every day for the next 90 days, Metro will activate these new stations with more than 100 experiences, welcoming riders into three distinct neighborhoods through local pop-up coffee carts, boutique vendors, weekly farmers markets, dance classes, and more.
Continuing a Metro tradition, limited-edition TAP cards have also been created to reflect the unique culture and character of the communities surrounding each station.
“This moment has been years in the making and is a powerful example of how thoughtful infrastructure investments can expand possibilities for residents across Los Angeles County,” said Holly J. Mitchell, Metro Board Member and Los Angeles County Supervisor. “I am thrilled to welcome the new stops along the D Line in my district and look forward to seeing the line connect communities from Downtown Los Angeles to the Westside with fast, reliable transit. These new stations not only improve access to cultural institutions, local businesses, and everyday destinations, but also reflect our commitment to building a more equitable and accessible transportation system for all.”
As with previous construction projects, Section 1 of the D Line Extension was designed and built with the help of community input and local voices. In addition, the project benefitted from Metro’s Board-approved small business mitigation programs: the Business Interruption Fund that provides financial assistance to those businesses located along project corridors and Eat Shop Play, which provides them with marketing assistance. Both helped support small businesses in the areas along this project during construction. The Business Interruption Fund awarded 465 grants to 122 small businesses around Section 1 totaling more than $14 million and the Eat Shop Play program provided free marketing assistance to 52 businesses.
“Today’s opening is a transformative moment for Los Angeles and a clear demonstration of what sustained investment in public transit can deliver for our region,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “Riders can get from DTLA to Beverly Hils in 21 minutes, and we’re not stopping here. With Sections 2 and 3 on track to reach Century City and Westwood next year, we’re building a world-class transit system that will serve Angelenos for generations to come and help prepare our city for the global stage. This is a clear example of the Olympics legacy already in motion.”
Section 1 of the D Line Extension was funded primarily by Metro’s 2008 Measure R transportation sales taxes. Local sales tax funding also secured federal matching funds including $1.25 billion FFGA, $66.4 million of supplemental New Starts, and $12.7 million in CMAQ funding and $749.3 million loan from TIFIA in May 2014.
For additional information about the D Line Extension, please visit metro.net/d-line-extension.
