BEVERLY HILLS—One of Metro’s priority projects, the Purple Line Subway Extension will construct seven new stations will be added, providing access to the Westside—the region’s second largest job center.

With the extension of the Purple Line, travel between downtown Los Angeles and Westwood is expected to take around 25 minutes. According to Metro’s official website, the project “Will provide a high-capacity, high-speed and dependable alternative for commuters to travel between downtown Los Angeles, the Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills and Westwood, where stations will be near UCLA and the VA Hospital.”

The Extension Project will be built in three sections. The first section is located between Wilshire/Western and Wilshire/La Cienga. The section is currently under construction, and its expected to be completed in 2023.

The second section will extend the subway to downtown Beverly Hills and Century City. The area is currently in pre-construction, with construction set to begin later this year. Sections 1 and 2 of the 3 part extension project are funded by Measure R—a sales 2008 tax that was approved in LA—and by a pair of federal grants.

The third section will further extend the project to two stations located in Westwood. Pre-construction began in spring 2018, and construction is expected to start in 2019. The stations are expected to be open for operation in 2026. The Metro board approved the project on the third section. The stations will connect downtown Los Angeles to the Westside, and add 2.59 miles of new rail to the Metro’s rail system.

“We are closer than ever to making this project a reality connecting key parts of the Westside to the region’s growing rail network and improving mobility for everyone who lives, works and plays in Los Angeles County,” states Metro’s website.

For more information about the Purple Line Extension project, visit https://www.metro.net/projects/westside/.