LA Metro PURPLE LINE (D) Construction Update!
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2024
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The purple or D line as it’s now officially known was opened in 1996 as a short 2 station branch of the Metro Red line. Known as the Wilshire branch, it wasn’t branded as the Purple line until 2006, and finally it was designated the D line in 2019 as part of a system-wide renaming scheme.
The purple line extension is being built in 3 phases, all of which are currently under construction. The 3 phases will open between 2024 and 2027. The first section of the project includes 3 new stations and stretches 3.9 miles or 6.3 kilometers from the current terminus at Wilshire and Western to Wilshire and La Cienega boulevard. The tunnels for this section are being mined from the Wilshire and La Brea station.
The second section of the project will add 2 new stations, one in Beverly Hills and one in Century City. Section 2 is 2.6 miles or 4.2 kilometers and is being mined from the Century City/Constellation station. This section is scheduled to open in 2025. Section 3 only began construction in 2019, but it is scheduled to open in 2027. It will add an additional 2 stations at Wilshire and Westwood and the Westwood Veterans Administration hospital. Section 3 is 2.56 miles or 4.1 kilometers long and is being mined from the VA hospital station.
Section 1 of this project is being funded by the Measure R half cent sales tax passed in 2008 and a federal grant. Sections 2 and 3 are being funded by Measure M, which extended the half cent tax in 2016, as well as two other federal grants. So with all of the gritty details out of the way, let’s take a look at the future line.
Footage shown was shot on October 4-5, 2020.
Music courtesy of the CZcams Audio Library.
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Contact:
Email: thefourfoot8@gmail.com
Twitter: @TheFourFoot
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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:10 Wilshire/Western
6:33 Wilshire/La Brea
8:35 Wilshire/Fairfax
11:57 Wilshire/La Cienega
15:21 Wilshire/Rodeo
17:25 Century City/Constellation
20:04 Wilshire/Westwood
22:03 Westwood/VA Hospital
23:15 Outro
#LAMETRO #PurpleLine #Construction
2,253
Quick update: Ground was broken at the VA parking lot back in January. As of today a huge wall barrier had been erected an excavation has begun!
Thanks for the info!
Nice!!!
Excellent! I hope I will live long enough to see the completion of the Purple Line, or D Line. I prefer the color because colors signify the cultural diversity and creative arts that represents the culture of LA.
This and the Regional Connector are game changers. To have a subway line below LA's busiest street with stops at some of its largest employment centers and a few tourist attractions is simply awesome.
The regional connector is not a game changer. All of its stations are close to existing red line stations. Pointless waste of money that should be going toward tunneling under Santa Monica Blvd.
Hope LA can get to a point where good bike infrastructure gets this visibly progressed in such prime locations. Imagine the sight of a huge downtown intersection getting narrowed, bike protected intersection facilities installed, and stuff like elevated bike lanes, street median crossing refuges, maybe even a Mexico City style boulevard park with trees and playgrounds. That's something we need to see soon.
This. 100x this
As an LAMetro employee working in RFM I applaud your video, very accurate and professional.
I really appreciate it!
Metro should be paying you for this lol
I could go for that lol
I’m quite relieved that there will be a station at the VA hospital…..
I’ve been waiting for this line for 30 years. I can’t wait to take it from downtown LA to Wilshire and Fairfax.
It will certainly be nice!
Same here... Wish this existed 20 years ago!!! Don't really have a use for it anymore but will ride it 4 fun...
Should’ve been built 60 years ago. Should’ve had one through the Sepulveda Pass as well as additional lines in the SFV.
@@rspister *especially now knowing that the genius who invented the freeways didn't understand rate of population growth... idiots!!!
Wealthy Santa Monica & WLA nimbies will sacrifice their first born to prevent this from being constructed under their neighborhoods and reaching Downtown Santa Monica,. And then if it does eventually get built, it won’t be until 2050 or later. Meanwhile, in other countries they can build subway or light rail system out in less than 10 years.
I visited Santa Monica, California about two years ago, and I did not have a car. Despite what has been said about traffic, I did really well getting around using a combination of busses and trains. I was so worried, coming from New York, before my trip, not having a car and such. Los Angeles is really a beautiful place and I had a great time and it was very affordable to get around the area. I don't remember the lines I took, but I took a train from Santa Monica to Los Angeles, and it was a very convenient experience, as well as other routes throughout. Very cool video and I hope to visit again one day!
I think the line you took was the light rail expo line
Well la-di-da you can take the bus anywhere if you don't have to be on time try to having to be at work at 6 a.m. in Vernon and take the bus from downtown Long Beach you can't eat the blue-line don't even start until 5:15. Most of the feeder lines don't even start until 5:30
They better extend that to Santa Monica. It's about time Santa Monica, and the Pacific Coast of the Greater Los Angeles Area in general gets a second transit line connecting the coast to Downtown LA and Vice Versa. Thanks for the upload!
For sure. Glad you liked it!
Agree!!!
Like the D train to Coney Island ....wise indeed!
More then likely and in time, the Purple line will extended to Santa Monica. When it is, I wonder how close will it be to UCLA Santa Monica Med Center. I have a connection with UCLA SM, my late mother worked there for 6yrs until she retired in 2007. Not only will UCLA students benefit from the Purple Line having a station at Wilshire and Westwood, so will al of the Fed employees who work at the Federal building that's on Wilshire and Veteran as will the employees who work.at the L.A. Nat'l Cemetery and the families who have loved ones interned at the cemetery.
That’ll take another 40 years. I hate California politicians
Man, this video is more thorough than Metro, can this man get hired to do Metro's construction update?!
When I flew to a huge college track meet at Azusa Pacific University, we had a free day that we used to take the train from Azusa to Hollywood to look around. It was a great time, and it was incredibly easy getting around.
In August 2000, a pro-transit activist group calling themselves "Heavy Trash" erected several fake signs from the Westside to Santa Monica announcing future construction of the Metro "Aqua Line". The signs were quickly taken down. The Metro Board of directors was peeved by this and refused to name the line by that color, which made the most sense, because the line was headed west, towards the ocean. That is why it became the "Purple Line". 🤑
I heard something about that, I didn’t realize Metro was so butt hurt about it lol.
Ironically, the aqua color of the fake subway sign was eventually used for the Expo (E) line to Santa Monica.
That's the level of pettiness only municipal government can provide haha.
@@lvazquez733 Metro insists the color is Cyan lol
That's funny. They should do it again ;)
Odd to see a subway being built through my old stomping grounds. Love to see it
at least it's not yet another highway
@@someidiot4570 Oh I'm not complaining, all my friend are thrilled to avoid the traffic on the Avenue
Coming from the UK, every single one of these roads looks like a dual carriageway! The refusal to just close one of these roads to accelerate construction and lower costs is mind boggling.
Yeahhhh lol. Cars first is the law of the land here for sure
Really great video. Very interesting and great to see LA is catching up in public transport.
Thanks a lot! It sure is!
It is interesting that after the better part of a century, Los Angeles is finally rebuilding something resembling the extensive rail network it once had.
We all know how horrible the breakup of PE and the LA railway was. Let’s hope the feds don’t let it happen ever again.
Still a long ways to go but its happening!
I rode the Los Angeles subway many times. I went to Universal Studios and the park was across the street from the station.
Lol at the Geoff cameo
I figured it would fit since he’s made such a big deal about the #PurpleTrain lol
Second time I’ve seen everyone’s favorite Tube expert crop up today in someone else’s work.
@@metropod I was just about to comment the same thing. He will need to start getting royalties at this rate
POST
@@TheFourFoot I love Geoff but his hard on for "Lizzy Line" is immense
Now it's time for Mid-coast trolley baby!
What I don't get is why LA can't fully grade separate the Crenshaw Line when San Diego fully grade-separated the Mid Coast Trolley.
They could, but it’s all about cost and creating pedestrian friendly downtown districts
“Disguising their nimbyism as concern for the students” lol fire
Yeah who could imagine something slightly nefarious going on in Beverly Hills lol
Los Angeles metro has so many employment zones and also many high density residential areas. This subway construction connects many of the core employment areas of Westwood, century city, Beverly Hills, mid Wilshire, Koreatown, and Downtown LA. Downtown, West Lake, Koreatown and Westwood are very dense areas and more walkable parts of a car centric LA. I've noticed a lot of new and taller construction along Wilshire the past 10 years. I hope it gets an extension to Santa Monica which is a major employment, tourist, and dense walkable area. It would make the core connections more complete
The fact that you provide photos of what it was BEFORE just earned you another subscriber! Love this! I grew up in L.A., also have a series called, "Where I grew Up". Keep it up man!
Another awesome video as usual! This will be a game changer for LA. Would be nice if it went all the way to the beach and connect to the expo line in downtown santa Monica but wilshire/Bundy would still be better than ending it at the VA..
Just need to get the Crenshaw line to at least this line and extend the red line down Vermont (still learning the letters haha)
Thanks a lot! Absolutely. I know the Crenshaw station was eliminated to save money, I’m sure it would have still been heavily utilized on opening. That said, Metro definitely has a lot of projects to juggle, but extending the Crenshaw/LAX Line would be huge (avoiding having to go downtown and all).
Or at the least Federal..
I'd love to see San Diego build their own version of the purple line from Downtown to SDSU along El Cajon or Univeristy. Like the purple line, it would travel along the densest areas of the city outside Downtown and parallel what are currently the busiest bus routes in the city.
There is a plan to convert the Rapid 215 Bus between SDSU and Downtown into light rail in the future. Whether or not it will be below grade, street level, or above grade will be a matter of funding availability. El Cajon Blvd is wide enough the accommodate street running, as shown by the dedicated bus lanes already in place. Knowing how San Diego does things on the cheap, the new line will will most likely street run instead of being underground like the Purple Line.
being born and raised in north hollywood i had no idea of this project its incredibly sad to see what could've been for my town!
Currently live in Westwood about 20 minutes from the E Line.
I love the LA metro I save so much money not having to pay for parking, insurance or gas.
One impeccably executed video teeming with brilliant information! 'A+'
Thank you very much!
This can't happen soon enough. I left LA 24 year ago. I thought they'd be more advanced with their underground. Do plan a trip in 2024. Let's see what'll surprise me.
So much Geoff today, first in Simon Peggs mountain and railway channel and now here. I need more.
Yeah that made me lol. It certainly wasn’t planned!
Dude you are a master of your craft. The video, editing, narration, everything is perfect. Keep up the great work!
Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it!
As someone who goes to ucla with family in pasadena, this will be so nice. The 720 is so slow compared to rail.
Thank you for making this video! Hopefully you can come back and ride it during the Olympics!
I’m looking forward to it. And I plan on returning before then lol
Excellent presentation of the Purple Line (Liue D) extension along (under) Wilshire and to Century City. Aerial photo at very end (23:34) shows that only a short extension is needed to join the Expo Line (Line E) and reach Santa Monica. Then the two lines will be linked up at both city centre and SM ends, and easy access right through the western part of the city and SM will be possible.
Are you considering coming over to Chicago to document the construction projects? The Chicago Transit Authority is doing major construction projects as part of the Red Line Extension and Red-Purple Modernization projects.
I have definitely considered it lol
0:04 it's geoff marshall from the tube series
What an exciting time to live in LA
Amazing video . I can’t wait into the Line is done completely. Cars 500 to 530 are retiring but metro wants to keep the other cars because they don’t really have problems. The air vents ones have a lot of problems .
Good to know, thanks!
What i Heard from the Grapevine is that Metro wants to Hold On to the Older Cars for the 28 Olympics due to possible Overcrowding for that Event & does not want a Meltdown Like what happen to Atlanta's MARTA System during the 96 Olympics where that System was Overtaxed & Overloaded & the same with its Light Rail Cars, as well with the Busses.
This will be way different than the 84 Olympics that didn't have Rail in L.A. Just Busses.
I never knew LA was expanding their metro until I watched a documentary on it last night.
What is the documentary called???
@@septemberz "Building Giants" on Discovery + (Season 4 Episode 2).
@@TheRailwayDrone thx I’ll check it out! Is it free anywhere?
@@septemberz It's about 6 bucks a month.
There are definitely plans to extend it beyond Westwood. One of the possibilities is to take it to DT Santa Monica. There’s also a possibility to turn it north and take it through the Sepulveda pass. I hope they don’t choose that route because it will be overcrowded. Better than a monorail however.
That was great. I can't wait it's ready. I've been waiting for this since I was a boy in the 70's. Subscribe!
I’m glad you liked the video! It will sure be nice when the line is open!
Thanks for the info! Also no need to say “D” line nobody I know that rides metro calls it “D” line we all say purple line. I don’t know why metro wants to use letters like if we live in New York. We’re Los Angeles and could use our own language so to metro don’t change the names of the lines! The red, gold, blue, purple, silver, orange and expo line is just fine to me.
So true! I take umbrage at the Metro folk who deny the color system in favor of a numbered system. One argument is that we will "run out of colors". Hogwash! The D-M-V system (D.C.-Maryland-Virginia) predates LA's system by decades and branding train lines with colors for names works just fine. Leave it to Los Angeles to screw something up that works just fine. Morons.
We still have the colors. But letters make it easier for out of country visitors. Like the ones we'll be seeing in 2028.
@@thomastrout9997 the color system is nice but we are running out of colors in DC. (Only color I can think that is left is Brown. Black and white might be hard on a map. Pink and Purple are on the books) Especially if they incorporate the commuter rail lines on the metro map like in LA or even the H St Street Car then we’ll have to start to use numbers and letters.
My guess is that it’s for the Olympics, since a lot of tourists won’t speak English, so knowing the word for Orange in English might be harder than saying “C” but that’s just my guess. 🤔
@@gabrielgarcia7554 And even for those who speak English. Saying/remembering letters is easier than full words. Just like most will say "The 5" instead of "Interstate 5" or "Golden State Freeway."
Great video!! Agree with other comments that LA Metro should just hire you for their promotions. Now if LA would finish access to the airport…
Yeah, it would be nice if they could get on that…any time now lol
I love Metro. Looking forward to more updates!
I used to take the bus on Wilshire/Fairfax to west of the 405. It was terrible. The purple line would make things so much easier.
Having spent a lot of time in the area, your pronunciation of “San Vincentey” (San Vicente) made me smile
I claim Midwest ignorance lol
Like San Pedro (San Peedro) or Curson (ker-sON) there are others but you Know what I mean.
Re: former lol
Wow I was not expecting such a detailed video! Thank you so much for all the footage and arial views! They really helped me get a feel for the route :)
Waiting for the first new section/phase of this line to open which will make it easier to visit my relatives in the area when I visit L.A.
I prefer all Metro LA rail lines being named after a color instead of letters because the City of Angels represents diversity; and colors represent diversity. Colors represent creative art and cultural diversity for this vibrant, world-class city. Los Angeles is known for all forms of art. I think the residents of southern California should sign a petition to get the Metro LA Authority to go back to naming the rail lines after a color it fits LA culture.
Great video! I only hope I live long enough to take the extension. Currently, I only take the Purple Line to get from the Blue Line to the Gold Line on the way to Arcadia. I hope the station in Westwood is in walking distance (less than a mile) from UCLA, so I can relive memories of the 1970's of visiting my ABC girlfriend who later became a doctor.
I hope so!
8:57 This is similar to the location where the movie Volcano (1997) was filmed. I remember the Wilshire Crater erupting there.
Once again a great overview of a LA Metro project!
Glad you liked it!
Thank you for your report, which was very well presented.
I’m glad you liked it!
What a well-made video! All the types of footage and explanations and extra context made this super interesting and informative to watch!
Nicely done and superbly presented.
Thank you very much!
Looks like a world class project, nice video
Great overhead video. Thanks for the great explanations!
I'm really curious to see how much progress has been made since then! An update video like this one would be exciting to see. I'm can't wait to be able to use these future stations for traveling to the museums and shopping centers. It will be such a better alternative to driving.
Very very nice to see!!
Excellent video! I always look forward to these.
I’m glad you like them!
This video is sick. Great job!
Thank you for sharing this video I can’t wait for this project to travel from downtown to BH
Me neither!
I’m a mechanic on this job love the video very accurate
This was really informative and visually interesting, thanks
Cool insights into this major project. Nice maps and general visual overview.
Thanks a lot!
Thank you for the video!.Sal. from New York!.
I’m glad you liked it!
An excellent video. It was recommended by CZcams, and I'm glad it did.
Thanks a lot!
Bummed the art museum was destroyed for building the Rodeo station. It was gorgeous. It would be cool to have some stations with History and old beauty
I never went, so I’ll take you word for it!
@@TheFourFoot I never went either just the outside looked nice
No it wasn’t lol
Love it. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked it!
Awesome video and very descriptive. I love LA.
Great production
Nice vid. Very informative and professional.
Great stuff, bro! I was smiling ear-to-ear and even though this video was "only" 24 minutes long, it was so informative; direct; and on-par, that it felt longer because of the amount information you was saying narrating. Loved it! I'm definitely booked for 2027, once this project is completed.
Thanks a lot! I’m definitely gonna try and be there on opening day lol
This video was super super super well done 👍
I really appreciate it!
Thanks For The Update
Awesome video and explanation, thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Wow I just geeked out watching the Metro subway path unfold! Enjoyed this so much, very nice narration. Can't believe the old LACMA is gone :O
Glad you liked it?
Fantastic video! I live near Vermont/Santa Monica station so TBH I'm "glad" they re-reouted the original route but I CAN'T WAIT for this to be done. Is the UCLA station going to be the only station with 2 entrances? Also you going down the escalator at Wilshire/Western and the info screen saying the train was leaving in 1 min gave me PTSD. I was like "RUN!! RUN!! You are gonna miss the train!!!!"🤣
I did miss the train lol, it left me with like 4 minutes to catch my Surfliner at union station lol. The original line obviously would have been better than nothing, but getting the purple line all the way to Westwood is much better. I don’t think anyone at RTD could have imagined a subway station 2 blocks from Rodeo drive in 1983 lol
Fantastic video. Very engrossing!
Thanks a lot!
Love your videos. That guy @ 20:05 really deserved two tickets with his driving!
Lol for sure
So informative! Definitely subscribed!
Thanks a lot!
Good report!
Thanks a lot!
Great video and great soundtrack! Better and more informative than Metro's official updates
They definitely have me beat with the underground footage, but I really appreciate it!
Nice presentation. Very informative.
Thanks!
Such a well made video. You should have much more subs.
Thanks!
Great video!
Great job!!!
Great summary! Looking forward to Section 1 opening in 2-3 years.
Absolutely!
In the 90s, I once had to go from Westwood to Santa Ana.
I had to take a bunch of buses to the Greyhound station and then the Greyhound to Santa Ana. it took the whole freaking day....
A real ordeal!!
(The internet was brand new then and basically useless for anything practical. and there was no Google Maps or Google or smartphones)
I remember those days/ times 🤤
I never thought about the fact that they had to deal with the tar pits when digging these tunnels
Yeah, I didn’t realize it was quite as difficult as it was. They had like 60 work stoppages due to methane, but all’s well that ends well I guess...
@@TheFourFoot haha yeah, also I linked your video in the discord too!
Thanks breh lol
Very nice and informal video. Even tho I don't live los Angels I do wanna check this out when it is finished
Thanks a lot!
Great video
great video!
A major priority project is to build a rail line from the San Fernando Valley to the Westside. That is going to be a huge long over due multi billion dollar project.
For sure...it’s definitely worth a video lol
Great video! Very informative
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it!
Just a heads up that only he first batch of A650’s will be retiring at this time, they will continue the newer batch as they seem to have no problems compared to the older batch which one of those trains actually broke down yesterday.
Great video.
Great video. Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
Also, there are drawings online showing the projected route into Santa Monica. The stations would be at Bundy (the skyscraper cluster visible toward the end of your video), at 26th, at 16th, and at 4th.
I’d love to see that built!
People from other countries wanting to see how Los Angeles looks like?
Well, here you go.
The nicer part of it…
Great job doing an update of the Purple line extension to the Westwood/West L.A. areas. Now, think you can do updates of the proposed extension lines of the Crenshaw/LAX line to West Hollywood and Hollywood, as well as the extension of the C (former Green) line to Torrance and, of course the L (former Gold) line (will be known as the "E" line in the future) to Whittier?
I can definitely try! If you don’t see this video in a few months, feel free to bug me about it! Lol
@@TheFourFoot however 2 out of 3 rail extension proposals will have multiple segments of routes that Metro may select one of each in the upcoming years. For example, the Crenshaw Northern Extension has 3 proposed routes and the South Bay extension to Torrance has 2 proposed routes.
Great Vid.
When did the yellow livery come about for the rail vehicles? It's literally identical to Manchester, UK's Metrolink light rail/streetcar system. I got a surprise when I visited and noticed the familiar design.
I believe it was in the late 2000’s with the expansion of the gold line. I know about Manchester, but in my humble opinion, LA’s cars look better lol.