Westwood/UCLA station

Westwood/UCLA station
Name	Westwood/UCLA station
Type	Rapid transit station
Location	Westwood, Los Angeles
Owner	Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Line	D Line (Los Angeles Metro)
Structure	Underground
Opened	Planned

Westwood/UCLA station Westwood/UCLA station is a planned underground rapid transit station on the D Line extension serving the Westwood neighborhood and the University of California, Los Angeles campus in Los Angeles, California. The station is part of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's effort to extend subway service from Koreatown to Westwood, improving access to regional transit hubs, higher education institutions, medical centers, and cultural institutions. Project planning involves coordination among local, state, and federal agencies, major contractors, academic stakeholders, and community groups.

Overview

The project is a major element of the D Line Extension, connecting to the existing D Line at Wilshire/La Brea and continuing through Wilshire Boulevard to Westwood, linking with networks operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, connecting riders to Union Station (Los Angeles), 7th Street/Metro Center station, Hollywood/Highland station, Vermont/Sunset station, and facilitating transfers to services like Metro B Line (Los Angeles Metro) and regional rail. The station will serve destinations such as the University of California, Los Angeles, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, and cultural venues including the Hammer Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Funding and oversight have involved entities such as the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the Federal Transit Administration, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, and local measures like Measure R (Los Angeles County), Measure M (Los Angeles County).

Location and Access

Situated beneath Wilshire Boulevard near the intersection with Gayley Avenue and Westwood Boulevard, the station site lies adjacent to the University of California, Los Angeles campus and the Westwood Village commercial district. Pedestrian access will connect to major campus corridors near landmarks like the Powell Library, Royce Hall, the UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica outpatient facilities, and public spaces associated with the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden. Planned entrances and plazas are coordinated with the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Los Angeles Department of City Planning, Los Angeles Unified School District planning offices for nearby facilities, and campus planning bodies at UCLA Facilities Management.

History and Planning

The D Line Extension project traces roots to long-term regional planning by the Southern California Association of Governments and voter-approved funding programs such as Measure R (Los Angeles County) (2008) and Measure M (Los Angeles County) (2016). Environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act was conducted with input from the Federal Transit Administration and the California Public Utilities Commission where applicable. Early planning phases involved consultants and contractors including major engineering firms, tunneling contractors experienced with tunnel boring machine projects, and design teams with experience on stations like Wilshire/Western station and North Hollywood station. Community advisory committees included representatives from United Neighborhoods for Los Angeles, local business improvement districts, and campus organizations from UCLA Student Affairs.

Station Design and Facilities

Design concepts emphasize deep-bore tunneling with an underground concourse, passenger platforms, elevators, escalators, and emergency egress integrated with utility corridors managed by entities such as the Department of Water and Power (Los Angeles) and Southern California Gas Company. Architectural guidance references transit-oriented stations such as Pershing Square station and incorporates public art programs managed by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts Program. Accessibility features are planned in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 standards, including tactile strips, audible announcements, and wayfinding aligned with practices seen at Union Station (Los Angeles). Mechanical systems will be coordinated with contractors experienced in subway ventilation, fire suppression, and security systems used in facilities like Metro Center (Los Angeles).

Services and Operations

When operational, the station will be served by the D Line with service patterns coordinated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and integrated into fare policies including the Tap (smart card), fare capping pilots, and service coordination with bus lines operated by Metro Local and Metro Rapid. Operations planning involves scheduling to interface with regional services like Metrolink (California), shuttle operations for campus destinations, and event-service planning for institutions such as the UCLA Athletics program and performances at venues like Royce Hall. Safety oversight and emergency response coordination include partnerships with the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, and UCLA Health emergency services.

Connections and Transportation Links

The station is planned as a multimodal node connecting to Metro bus lines along Wilshire Boulevard, community shuttles, bicycle infrastructure coordinated with the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, and ride-hail zones managed with the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Longer-distance connections will link to services at Union Station (Los Angeles), airport connections toward Los Angeles International Airport, and regional rail corridors operated by Metrolink (California). Last-mile solutions under consideration include shared-mobility programs with providers similar to Lime (company) and Bird (company), and microtransit pilot programs previously trialed by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Nearby Landmarks and Development Impact

The station is expected to affect development patterns in Westwood Village, prompting transit-oriented development proposals by private developers, university-led campus expansions by University of California, and community planning initiatives overseen by the City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning. Nearby landmarks include Powell Library, Royce Hall, the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden, the Hammer Museum, and medical centers including the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Economic and traffic impacts have been analyzed in studies citing effects on commercial corridors, parking policies influenced by UCLA Transportation, and regional commuting patterns tracked by the Southern California Association of Governments.

Category:Los Angeles Metro Rail stations (planned)