Overview

Los Angeles has opened its first new subway stations in over 25 years, marking a significant milestone for the city's transit system. The D line extension aims to alleviate traffic congestion along the busy Wilshire Boulevard corridor and is seen as a potential game changer for local transportation.

The new subway service, which runs approximately 50-70 feet underground, connects key areas of the city, including Union Station and Beverly Hills, in a much shorter travel time than previously experienced.

Key details

  • The D line extension covers roughly 12 miles along Wilshire Boulevard.
  • Travel time from Union Station to Beverly Hills is now approximately 21 minutes.
  • The first section of the D line extension opened on a Friday, celebrated with a grand event.
  • Three new subway stations were added in this initial phase.
  • The project is part of a long-term vision dating back to the 1960s called the “subway to the sea.”
  • The extension includes access to cultural landmarks like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
  • LA Metro is promoting the new service amidst upcoming global events, including the World Cup and the Olympics.
  • Residents expressed excitement by wearing “Ride the D” T-shirts at the opening event.
  • The Metro system was free to ride over the opening weekend.
  • Tim Lindholm, chief program management officer for LA Metro, highlighted the significance of breaking the east-west divide in transportation.
  • The second phase of the project will allow travel from downtown to UCLA in approximately 25 minutes.
  • The new stations are located in areas with high pedestrian traffic and access to shopping and dining.

Context

This subway expansion comes at a time when LA has faced challenges with falling ridership and concerns about crime and service reliability. The new stations are seen as a step towards improving public transit and reducing reliance on cars in a city known for its traffic congestion.

What happens next