Los Angeles will open a 3.92-mile extension of its D Line subway on May 8. This new section adds three stations and ends at La Cienega Boulevard. The entire 9-mile trip from Los Angeles Union Station will take about 21 minutes.
This extension is the first of three. The next two are set to open in 2027. They will reach Beverly Hills, Century City, UCLA, and the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center.
Preparing for the Olympics
The D Line extension is part of LA Metro's plan to finish projects by 2028. Los Angeles will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games that year. The new extension will also provide access to "museum row." This area includes the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the La Brea Tar Pits.
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Start Your News DetoxLA Metro expects 16,200 weekday riders when the new section opens. The project cost $3.7 billion. Funding came from a local sales tax, federal grants, and a $749.3 million loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Overcoming Construction Challenges
Tunneling for all three sections finished two years ago. The La Brea area was the most difficult part. Crews found tar sands, fossils, and archaeological items. This was because Ice Age mammoths and sloths got stuck in molten asphalt there. Tim Lindholm, LA Metro's chief program management officer, called it an "extremely challenging project."
LA Metro contractors used a 400-foot-long, 21-foot-diameter tunnel-boring machine. It dug about 40 to 60 feet each day. As the machine moved, it lined the tunnel with concrete segments. These segments were bolted together to form secure rings. This prevented water and gas risks.
Crews also dug box-shaped holes for the underground stations. These were then covered. All station boxes for the remaining extensions are now dug out.
Ready for Riders
Trains are already running through the section opening next month. They are "mimicking the everyday schedule" without passengers. Testing is complete, and operators have finished training. Lindholm said it's a "very, very exciting time."
Each new station features public art. Lindholm noted that Los Angeles has a "very thriving art community."
LA Metro also plans to build a 14-mile automated subway line in the Sepulveda corridor. The agency also wants to extend the K Line south to the Torrance Transit Center and north to Hollywood.
Deep Dive & References
D Line Subway Extension Section 1 Through Historic Mid-Wilshire Corridor Set to Open May 8 - LA Metro LA Metro Officially Completes Five Years of Tunneling, Adding Nine Miles on D Line Subway Extension Project Between Downtown, West LA - LA Metro LA to build computer-controlled subway line along Sepulveda corridor - Smart Cities Dive, 2026 K Line Northern Extension - LA Metro Green Line Extension - LA Metro
