The unveiling of Section 1 of the Los Angeles D Line subway extension comes after a several-decades-long delay mainly fueled by funding constraints, engineering issues, and duplicitous, racially coded claims that the line raised safety concerns. The line will run an estimated nine miles along Wilshire Boulevard to Westwood— expanding Metro’s former ‘Purple Line’—making some of the city’s most lucrative employment destinations, cultural hotspots, and critical medical facilities accessible to public transportation commuters.

In May, an additional 8,000 to 10,000 new riders boarded the D Line per day, and total rail ridership accumulated to an estimated 6,472,058. Ridership endured another 9% growth in June, primarily driven by the World Cup, fueling the community-driven ethos of Metro to eradicate access disparities for LA residents.

The launch of the D Line ignites a flame of optimism for Angelenos. Fundamentally, accessibility paves a viable path for equity, and equity renders us free. Regardless of the institutional bigotry that pervades American politics, economics, and sociological makeup, the unadulterated joy of Los Angeles residents endures.

Photographed by Carlos Serrao & Monica May

Styled by Gorge Villalpando

Hair: Koh at The Visionaries Agency

Makeup: Francie Tomalonis at The Visionaries Agency using La Beaute Louis Vuitton

Models: Florencia Menegazzo at Elite Models, Jolene Shen at Elite Models, Emeri Grace at Elite Models

Production: Amy Ground

Choreographer: Monika Felice Smith

Digital Imaging Technician: Damon Loble

Gaffer: John Woodside

Photo Assistants: Simon McDermott-Johnson, Embry Lopez, Jorge Espinoza

Styling Assistants: Juan Vega and Shatoya Allen

Security: Mike Munro

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