A series of pop-up events, markets and community activities will accompany the opening of Metro subway stations along the D (Purple) Line extension next week.
According to Metro, the three-month pilot program will bring daily “activations” to stations at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega as part of the expansion of the D Line west along Wilshire Boulevard.
Officials said the effort is designed to encourage ridership, support local businesses and create a more welcoming environment at stations scheduled to open May 8.
Activities planned at the stations include morning coffee carts, weekly farmers markets, pop-up retail shops and cultural programming, according to Metro.
At the Wilshire/La Brea and Wilshire/Fairfax stations, local vendors are expected to operate coffee carts on weekday mornings, while farmers markets are planned weekly at both locations.
Additional programming is expected to include free salsa dance classes, temporary pickleball courts and pop-up events featuring local businesses, including merchants from the nearby Little Ethiopia district.
Metro officials said similar activation efforts have been tested at other stations in recent years, including community events and night markets.
The second phase of the subway extension, tentatively set to open in spring 2027, will add stations in Beverly Hills and Century City. The third phase, tentatively planned for fall 2027, will add stations at UCLA and the VA hospital.
“Angelenos and visitors alike will love the extended service from downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills, delivering greater access to the iconic and culturally diverse communities, institutions and destinations that define the deep history along Wilshire Boulevard,” Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said in an earlier statement. “The stations are filled with beautiful artwork, making the journey to one’s destination an experience in itself.”
The overall extension effort is expected to cost nearly $10 billion.