L.A. Metro Opens First 4-Mile D Line Section May 8

LOS ANGELES, USA – The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) will begin passenger service on the first section of its D Line subway extension on May 8. The nearly 4-mile addition extends the line from Koreatown into Beverly Hills with three new underground stations. This is the first of three phases in a 9-mile project scheduled for full completion in 2027.

What Is the Full Scope of This Project?

The D Line Extension is being constructed in three separate sections totaling nine miles and will ultimately connect downtown Los Angeles with the Westwood neighborhood. The first section, opening May 8, runs under Wilshire Boulevard and includes new stations at La Brea Street, Fairfax Avenue, and La Cienega Boulevard. L.A. Metro plans to open the second and third sections, which will continue the line through Beverly Hills and Century City to Westwood, in 2027.

Key Project Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Projects?

The D Line extension opens as US transit agencies navigate a challenging ridership environment. For comparison, Metro Transit in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area reported a 3% overall ridership decline in 2025, with light rail usage falling 14% despite efforts to improve safety (Source: Axios, 2026). The L.A. Metro project represents a significant long-term infrastructure investment, contrasting with service-level challenges faced by some operators. Globally, large-scale rail investment continues, as seen in Portugal’s €1.03 billion contract with Alstom for 153 new trains, the country’s largest-ever train acquisition (Source: Manila Times, 2026).

Editor’s Analysis

The D Line extension is a critical capital investment aimed at improving regional mobility in a notoriously congested corridor. However, its launch coincides with significant external pressures on L.A. Metro, including political opposition from state lawmakers over proposed rideshare fee hikes at LAX, a key potential revenue stream (Source: LAist, 2026). The project’s ultimate success will be measured not only by construction milestones but by its ability to attract sustained ridership in a market where public transit is competing with entrenched travel habits and facing financial headwinds.

FAQ

Q: How long will the full D Line extension be when it is finished?
A: The complete D Line extension project will total nine miles. The nearly 4-mile first section opens in May, and L.A. Metro plans to open the remaining sections to the Westwood neighborhood in 2027.

Q: What is the total cost of the D Line extension project?
A: The total project cost and the budget for this first section were not disclosed in the opening announcement. Such large-scale urban subway construction projects typically involve multi-billion dollar investments.

Q: How will this extension impact passenger travel times?
A: L.A. Metro states that passengers will be able to travel from downtown Los Angeles to the new La Cienega station in Beverly Hills in approximately 20 minutes. This new service will not require any transfers for passengers traveling from existing D Line stations.