The Wilshire subway should be a slam dunk for L.A. But luring riders may be a challenge

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On paper, the D Line should be a slam-dunk for Los Angeles mass transit.It runs through the heart of the city, covering some of L.A.’s densest communities as well as landmarks like LACMA and the Academy Museum.Its stations are only a few blocks from the Grove and Beverly Center.But getting Angelenos out of their cars and onto mass transit will likely be a challenge, and experts say the D Line could be a major test of whether adding rail in prime real estate can change behavior.

Success of the line, some say, will ultimately hinge on its utility, reliability and the inconvenience of alternatives — and it’s far from clear that calculus will make it a daily commute favorite, especially right away.It needs to be “the best way to get around,” said Brian Taylor, a professor of urban planning and public policy at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs and a research fellow at the university’s Institute of Transportation Studies.

That becomes the case, he said, when the rail line is convenient, timely and consistent, while driving becomes less attractive: Interstate traffic remains a challenge, parking options are expensive or limited and fuel prices remain high.Travel & Experiences A vibrant section of Wilshire Boulevard, home to world-class museums, restaurants and galleries, will become significantly more accessible when the three new stations open May 8.Some Metro lines have achieved this success.

The A Line, which runs from Long Beach to the San Gabriel Valley, has long packed in passengers, with almost 17 million weekday riders a year in 2025, close to its pre-pandemic levels.But it is Metro’s oldest line, and runs through working-class communities that have long been dependent on mass transit.

The B Line, a subway that runs from downtown to the San Fernando Valley, recorded comparable ridership to the A Line last year, with almost 16 million weekday riders...