Two upcoming Westwood public transit projects have the potential to reduce traffic at UCLA.

The D Line Subway Extension Project will extend the subway line nine miles along Wilshire Boulevard and will include a Westwood/UCLA station, which is set to open in 2027. The D line currently runs from Los Angeles Union Station to Western Avenue.

The Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project (STC) is still in the planning and environmental review phase. The project will connect the San Fernando Valley – terminating at the Van Nuys Metrolink Station – and the Westside – terminating at the Metro E Line – through a rail transit service, with a station at or near UCLA’s campus.

Winston Li, a co-director of transportation, equity and access for the Undergraduate Students Association Council Facilities Commission, said both projects could expand student access to employment, housing and activities in other parts of LA.

“The main thing we’re looking forward to with these two rail projects is the connections that people (can make) and the places people would be able to go,” said Li, a third-year political science and statistics and data science student.

Connor Webb, chair of the North Westwood Neighborhood Council’s Transportation, Environment and Public Space Committee, said Westwood’s largely car-free population is already well served by bus lines but needs more rail access.

Almost half of on-campus UCLA students rely on public transit, according to the UCLA State of the Commute 2024 report. The report also said 18,432 Bruin U-Passes – which provide fare-free access to 13 transit agencies in the LA area – were distributed to students in fall 2024, resulting in 291,000 journeys.

UCLA employs more than 40,000 people, with 7.3% using public transit to access their jobs, according to the UCLA State of the Commute 2024.

“Being able to reduce car trips into and out of Westwood make our streets safer, make it a better place to be outside,” Webb said. “It’s good for people, it’s good for business, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that comes along.”

Michael Griffin, a co-director of transportation equity and access for the USAC Facilities Commission, said he thinks the expansion of the D line will lead to shorter travel times and increase U-Pass use.

“I think once the D line opens in two years, that’s going to be really transformative for UCLA students because it’ll allow students to get to downtown LA in less than 25 minutes on the subway, which is huge,” said Griffin, a third-year biology student. “That’s faster than driving, even when there’s little traffic.”

As for travel from the San Fernando Valley on public transportation along Interstate 405, the STC Project has the potential to reduce travel times by more than half, according to LA Metro.

Madelyn Kelly, a fourth-year political science and public affairs student, said, although she tries to make the most of her hour-and-a-half commute by doing homework on the Santa Clarita bus, the schedule and travel times can still be difficult.

Kelly added that she leaves Santa Clarita at 6:05 a.m. to arrive at UCLA around 7:30 a.m. and boards the bus at 4 or 5 p.m. to return home. She said bus schedules and travel times affect her class schedule and her ability to find employment, adding that the speed and frequency of a metro line would increase her flexibility.

“It’s frustrating. I think there are definitely better alternatives. I feel very fortunate at least we have the U-Pass, so at least it’s not a financial burden,” Kelly said. “But at a certain point, time is money, so it does take up a lot of time.”

LA Metro is currently considering five plans for the STC Project. Two of the options being considered are monorail lines, and three are heavy rail lines.

According to a community meeting presentation by LA Metro, end-to-end travel times for the heavy rail options could be between 18-20 minutes, while the monorail options are between 28-32 minutes.

The NWWNC has officially endorsed all three of the heavy rail options. Li said the monorail options are slower, and one lacks an on-campus stop.

“It’s worth noting UCLA is one of the densest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, so it makes sense to put a metro stop in the middle of campus because so many people commute to UCLA. So many people visit UCLA,” Griffin said.

Construction progress on the D Line UCLA/Westwood Station is visible on Gayley Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. The line closed last month in preparation for the completion of phase one, which will expand the line to La Cienega Boulevard in 2025. It is set to reopen in July.

LA Metro has held community meetings for the STC Project, including one on May 29 at the Westwood United Methodist Church. It released a draft environmental impact report for the project June 2.

“The key now is getting it done as quickly as possible but also making sure it’s done in the highest quality possible,” Webb said. “These projects are multi-generational projects. It’s a legacy that will last hundreds of years.”