Big Changes Already! Los Angeles Metro D Line Extension Construction Update - January 2025

Welcome to this unique video featuring a full D Line Extension construction update, featuring all stations on the 9.1 mile extension, which will take the line from the current terminus of Wilshire/Western, all the way to the VA Medical Center, serving important dense neighborhoods like Beverly Hills, UCLA, Westwood, and More! There has been so much progress made over the last 4 months, from when the last construction video from the D line was published, each station's appearance time will be located down below, just in case your looking to see a specific station! I hope you enjoy it!
Construction Updates From Each Station Listed Below:
Intro: 0:01
Wilshire/La Brea: 0:30
Wilshire/Fairfax: 6:01
Wilshire/La Cienega: 9:56
Wilshire/Rodeo: 14:06
Century City/Constellation: 17:08
Westwood/UCLA: 23:26
VA Medical Center: 26:45
Related videos will be located down below, which I highly recommend! If you enjoy fresh Los Angeles Metro content like this, make sure to like and subscribe for more! Thanks for watching and have an awesome rest of your day or night!
HR4000 Interior Subway Ride to Union Station: • Los Angeles Metro NEW ...
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#lametro #train #subway #railroad #metroline #masstransit #publictransport #downtown #downtownla #new #station #construction #update #lametro

[@rickd100]

Thanks so much for showing us this update!! This is a highly anticipated extension and can serve as a good example of what public transportation can bring to an area. More foot traffic, more businesses will benefit from this, remove traffic from the streets. From union station to UCLA will be a huge break through for everyone. Everyone dread the drive to UCLA and this will significantly reduce that travel time!

[@TigerRailfan]

It absolutely is a highly anticipated extension especially since the metro rapid line 720, is one of the busiest routes in america and there is truly so much density along Wilshire, perfect for a subway!

[@dddaddy]

Wow, that is comprehensive, thank you! I personally prefer the speech for these type of videos, the text is great for the individual station tours. Imo.

[@TigerRailfan]

Glad you liked it! I thought most people would agree, luckily I have some more time to edit so i can work on videos like that without sacrificing the upload schedule!

[@mrxman581]

I agree. The voice-over only is much better because with text only, it's difficult to read and watch what else is going on in the video at the same time. If viewers need text, they can simply turn on the Closed Caption feature. Thanks.

[@TheTransitNomad]

Yes, I agree. You took that out of my mouth :)

[@zengseng1234]

I love hot beverages in the morning. Watching this video with my morning coffee. Thank you for bringing the TEA! 😍

[@TigerRailfan]

Of course!! Im glad youve enjoyed and thanks for watching!

[@milazinnia]

Thanks for the update! I feel like since the A Line extension (besides Claremont and Montclair) is nearly completed, as well as the LAX / Metro Transit Center station, more $$$ is being placed into D Line construction. Since the progress on any of the stations was _extremely_ minimal from the pandemic until last year. Also, I'm a big fan of the new aesthetics that Metro is using! It seems like they're sticking to it, judging by the K Line/Regional Connector. It secretly makes me hope that other stations, especially those that are starting to show their age, will be upgraded to appear more like this (and the A Line style). Especially since all their other projects are seemingly being set to the side for now, probably in order to complete the D Line in time for the Olympics. Because UCLA is planning on hosting some of the games! Westwood gaining a subway would be crucial.

[@EdwardM-t8p]

The K Line extension to the D Line would have been ideal but it's still under planning! 😫 Same thing for the cancelled people mover to the Inglewood sports area. 😫😫😫

[@mrxman581]

Construction on the D line focused mostly on finishing all of the tunneling first. Which was completed in April of 2024. I doubt they are using any of the funds that have already been allocated to their other projects like the SFV or Southeast Gateway LRT lines. The D actually received an additional amount of federal funding when they allocated money to the SFV LRT line. Out of almost $900 million, the D line received most of this funding that was awarded around April 2024. Here is part of the text published at the time. "Metro anticipates receiving $165 million for section two (between Wilshire/La Cienega and Century City) and $478 million for section three (between Century City and Westwood), with all sections expected to open prior to the 2028 Olympics."

[@ChrisJones-gx7fc]

UCLA is set to be the Olympic Village where all the athletes will stay at. Good repurposing of the existing dorms rather than build a whole new village.

[@TigerRailfan]

I do enjoy the new modern look metro is taking aswell! The A line definitely has some great progress, especially since theyve been testing for quite some time! im glad youve enjoyed the video - Hopefully those other projects are still being worked on at full steam - especially since most metro projects have unfortunately opened late

[@TigerRailfan]

Yes this would make the entire line significantly more useful! One seat travel from Hollywood to LAX would be super valuable!

[@mrxman581]

Thanks for this great update on this project.

[@TigerRailfan]

Of course! I hope your as excited for the opening of the station as I am!

[@TheTransitNomad]

Another awesome video! I'm so happy I found your channel today! It's time to ride the 720 before it shuts down or runs less frequently after the D line extension opening.

[@TigerRailfan]

I hope you enjoy all the upcoming updates! I'm looking forward to seeing the D line open as well!

[@TheTransitNomad]

@@TigerRailfan Thank you! I'll be covering it on my channel, too! ☀😎 👍

[@Shant91]

Thanks for the update!

[@TigerRailfan]

No problem, I hope the construction moves along smoothly!

[@AYEItzErik06]

One thing that I noticed at 11:50 is that the box says “OTIS” that is like the best elevator company. Are they not contracting Mitsubishi anymore? Regional Connector & K-Line elevators are Mitsubishi. Very Intriguing. At this point you should get a job with Metro Community Relations cuz you update way better than they do 😂. Awesome vid.

[@TigerRailfan]

Really good observation I didnt see that! Maybe they didnt like the previous company or it was cheaper to switch to OTIS, thank you so much too! Im glad this video helps!

[@exiztent818]

Otis has a historical connection to LA, I am actually surprised to hear that Metro went with non-Otis elevators. I wonder what were the factors in leading to that desicion (most likely the Japanese ones were just less expensive and more reliable, or something like that)

[@KingLazy93]

According to a reddit user. Apple maps is already displaying the Wilshire/Fairfax station.

[@nathanhuang3737]

They're displaying the layout of the Phase 1 stations too, not just Wilshire/Fairfax. It's pretty nice that they're ready for whenever it opens.

[@snowless456]

@@nathanhuang3737LAX/Metro also has it’s layout there too, and they seemingly are preemptively showing K line through running already Edit: the A line to Pomona extension also has the platforms on maps

[@TigerRailfan]

Yes this is really exciting! Theyre also displaying the K line running through the LAX metro center which I mention in a future video! Its a great sign

[@JEFFK1963]

It is extremely disappointing to me that there is not a Phase 4 of this project to bring the line to Downtown Santa Monica, which is something you mentioned in the text late in this video. The Third Street Promenade & Wilshire would be a perfect place to end this line. While the light rail E Line may already go between Downtown LA and Downtown Santa Monica, the D Line really needs to do the same in order to connect Santa Monica to Beverly Hills by rail, or Santa Monica to the Westwood/UCLA area, or Santa Monica to the Miracle Mile, or Santa Monica to Koreatown, which the E Line does not do, as the E Line instead connects Santa Monica to Culver City and to the USC area. It's not so much about the start and end points of the line as it is the points in between, which makes a Phase 4 to Santa Monica necessary. Some sort of petition should be started to convince LA Metro to extend the D Line to the Third Street Promenade, as well as a serious campaign to get funding for such an extension.

[@milazinnia]

I agree, although this extension has cost Metro tens of billions over their budget, thanks to roadblocks by the pandemic, The City of Beverly Hills, and only being allowed to hire private contractors (which raises costs considerably). The end of the VA Hospital station is being purposefully constructed to aide a Phase 4 in the future, although Metro seemingly has other projects prioritized before that. Such as the E Line Whittier extension, the K Line Torrance extension, and the new Artesia/Sepulveda/Van Nuys lines. I think it will be well past 2050 before the D Line reaches Santa Monica, judging by current project progress. I don't think Trump will help that either, since he's the one responsible for privatizing transit construction federally in 2017, alongside oil companies. 🙄

[@EdwardM-t8p]

Multiple train lines between similar endpoints and midpoints is what makes the New York City MTA subway so successful, both in ridership and spurring transit oriented development!

[@mrxman581]

​​@@EdwardM-t8pYes, the MTA is very comprehensive, but much much older than LA Metro. And as such has had the time to become so comprehensive. However, the MTA has its own set of problems that come with a 100+ year old metro system. It has decades of deferred maintenance and modernization.

[@TigerRailfan]

I hope they consider it in the future! Would be awesome to see that happen especially since it goes so close! I understand subway is really expensive to build though so i can see why they would cut it to that

[@SuperheroJunior]

​@@TigerRailfan Wilshire and Fairfax is the place where the Notorious B.I.G was murdered on March 9, 1997😢

[@nathanielcoleman5694]

I REALLY don’t want to wait for Fall for this to open. I want more of a Summer opening, which is definitely possible

[@mrxman581]

I heard from a Metro rep that it could be late August 2025.

[@TigerRailfan]

I really hope for this too! Although knowing metro, itll likely be a fall or winter opening, especially with more work to be done on the stations.

[@HelloMrTang]

18:00 the cranes are working on the under construction office building. The station property abuts the building property. The station entrance is located at the north east corner of Avenue of the stars and constellation. Metro has a large staging area at the east end of Constellation. You also used the wrong rendering (used Wilshire/Rodeo).

[@TigerRailfan]

Just checked on that sorry about that! The correct rendering shows a smaller entrance area for sure not too much of a plaza like the ones described. I hope youve still enjoyed the video though! Thank you for watching

[@EdwardM-t8p]

Excellent progress on the LACMTA Metro D Line tunnel! Although I wonder why each line is still given a separate color since multiple lines operate on the same trunks (A & E / Regional Connector Subway, B & D Lines / Union Station Subway, C & K Lines / Crenshaw - Century Light Railway). Bundled lines could have the same color as well as the BRT feeder feeding into the B Line (Red Line B Train).

[@mrxman581]

The official designations are actually the letters and not the colors. LA Metro made the change several years ago. However, the colors are still referenced for historical purposes. When they switched from colors to letters, they assigned the letters based on the order the lines opened. For example, the Blue LRT line was the first line in operation so it got the A line designation. The Red subway line was the second to open so it got the B line designation and so on. However, the letter signs still reference the old color names via the circle the letter in enclosed. That is why the A is within a blue circle on the A line signage.

[@TigerRailfan]

It's probably a branding thing, so people don't mistake the A line for the E line for example, I'm glad you liked the video and thanks for watching!

[@peabody1976]

The ONE nitpick I have (and others who actually live in LA have said the same) is: the headhouses for the stations have these large areas of concrete that will be landscaped and look great, but won't allow for development of housing over the entrances. And, given the sad happenings of January 2025 with the wildfires in the western parts of the city, LACMTA allowing development over their entrances would do just as much to improve each station's appeal. BUT, and it's a big BUT, I'm very happy the D Line is being extended, and I'm glad they seem to be on schedule. Now, to extend both the B and D Lines east... Soon... maybe.

[@TigerRailfan]

I would really like to see the arts district station become a reality!

[@davidlang1125]

Thanks for a tour of current conditions on the D line stations. Looking at each staging area reveals a common state of disarray which has come to be a signature of Tutor Perini. One wonders about their safety record, expediency and economy. You’d think that having been involved in LA Metro’s construction from the very first A line they’d do a more professional job by now. Nope.

[@TigerRailfan]

I see what you mean there was alot of stuff everywhere especially in the stations more west in phase 2 and 3, as long as the product remains on-time and under-budget im ok with it!

[@SuperheroJunior]

The new HR4000 CRRC trains are now in service on the B and D line.

[@TigerRailfan]

Yes its truly been awesome to see! Im working on getting more videos up about them too - they are more on the D line though but ive seen them rotate to the B line occasionally when something goes wrong!

[@SuperheroJunior]

@TigerRailfan I rode the new CRRC HR4000 trains on the B Red Line already. The trains have several charging ports and the space is wider than the old Breda A650 trains.

[@themoviereportdotcom]

I'm pretty sure you're looking at the wrong spot for where the Century City station entrance will be located. It's supposed to be at the northeast corner of Avenue of the Stars/Constellation next to that building that's being built at the same time, a much more useful location that's in the middle of everything: across the street from the CAA Building, diagonally from the Century Plaza Hotel, and a crosswalk + very brief walk away from Westfield Century City. With heavy construction also going on for the adjacent building, there likely wouldn't be any structures up quite yet. What's there at Constellation/Century Park East is one of those storage areas.

[@TigerRailfan]

Ah I see! Definitely makes sense that was just a storage area, the entrances have all been in such convenient places except this one, ill be sure to update this in next month's D line extension video! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@KaiWritesCode]

3:00 Why does Metro build stations that are mostly an empty lot with a single story structure? Seems like a good place to add retail, housing, or both.

[@TigerRailfan]

It could be a choice of design, or a lack of interest for people to rent space above the station, it does seem like a missed opportunity though!

[@Eric_Cartman97]

Imagine heading to one of new D line stations while on the HR4000!

[@TigerRailfan]

This would be really cool! Cant wait to film and share the experiences!

[@HelloMrTang]

You got the Century City Station location completely wrong.

[@TigerRailfan]

Hi yes sorry about that! Next time ill be sure to grab the correct location, there is loads of construction going on in the area which is great I love to see more developments especially around a new subway station!

[@michaelmvm]

definitely prefer speech to the text, but of course both would be preferable

[@TigerRailfan]

Lots of others agree so I've been incorporating that into alot of new videos, i hope your enjoying it! Thanks for watching

[@CM80085]

I hope the new stations have bathroom

[@mrxman581]

I don't think they will. At least not inside the stations. Maybe outside like some subway stations now have them. Decades ago, LA Metro decided not to have either bathrooms or vendors in the stations. Both for security reasons and increased maintenance costs.

[@TigerRailfan]

I agree i could see them expanding the public restroom thing to the outsides of the station but i agree there likely wont be any pre-built restrooms inside the station.

[@paolagomez811]

How long Wilshire/La Brea is now open

[@TigerRailfan]

Its anticipated to open during the summer of 2025!

[@twizshiz]

I am at work watching this video, playing in the background. Reading text is kind of hard to do when focusing on a project I am working on. I would say, do both if possible. I liked your video.

[@TigerRailfan]

I see! Looks like this is the general consensus too! The videos coming out this week are full voiceover so that should be better! Thank you for watching and commenting im glad you enjoyed!!

[@necros2585]

If they work double time, I bet some of these stations could open up before LAX metro, or the APM

[@mrxman581]

Only the first section with the three stations. I heard from an LA Metro rep that the first section could open in late August 2025. Very close to the opening timeframes for the A line extension to Pomona and the opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station. It would be awesome if all 3 projects opened within a week from each other in late August/September 2025.

[@TigerRailfan]

I would say that it would open before the APM, but not the LAX Metro center since i think that one is about to open! Would be really nice to see the D line accelerated though especially with the tunneling being complete

[@Hotters7060]

A rapper named Biggie Smalls was shot and killed at the Peterson Automotive Museum on March 9, 1997 at Wilshire and Fairfax 😢

[@TigerRailfan]

Oh my gosh this is awful im so sorry that happened - surprised that would happen in such a relatively nice area like this

[@Hotters7060]

@@TigerRailfan Have you ever listened to Biggie Smalls rap music before???

[@TigerRailfan]

I have nto

[@Hotters7060]

@@TigerRailfan Biggie Smalls was born in New York City in Brooklyn.

[@QuentinLax]

Is it me or is this video 144p?

[@TigerRailfan]

Just checked on this it is fine for me, it could be ur settings in the video, i would see if its on 1080p or higher resolution! This tends to be the problem sometimes for people lmk if any other issue happens!

[@QuentinLax]

@ You’re right, it was an issue on my end. Thanks!

[@rambleron5720]

Beverly still slow walking this

[@TigerRailfan]

I hope they enjoy the new subway! Especially with these modern fixtures