Beverly Hills is preparing for a new challenge as Metro's D Line subway extension approaches its anticipated opening in early 2026: how to respond to people experiencing homelessness who may arrive at the city's first subway station.
The Wilshire/La Cienega station is expected to open during the first quarter of the year, bringing Beverly Hills into Los Angeles' expanding subway network. While the extension promises improved transportation for residents, workers and visitors, city officials are also preparing for increased late-night activity, public safety concerns and a greater need for homelessness outreach.
Rather than waiting for problems to emerge, Beverly Hills plans to coordinate police, fire personnel, mental health professionals and homelessness outreach workers before the first trains begin operating.
Why the New Metro Station Raises Homelessness Concerns
The Wilshire/La Cienega station will temporarily serve as the western end of Metro's D Line.
That distinction is important because passengers traveling to the end of the line must leave the train when service ends. Some may be individuals experiencing homelessness who have been using the transit system for shelter or transportation.
Beverly Hills Human Services Administrator Enisha Clark outlined the city's concerns during a December 16 City Council study session.
Officials anticipate additional pedestrian traffic throughout the day, along with passengers arriving during late-night and early-morning hours. Some may need mental health assistance, emergency services or connections to shelter and housing programs.
Cities with existing end-of-line stations have reported challenges involving overnight activity, sanitation, behavioral health emergencies and requests for assistance from nearby businesses.
Beverly Hills wants to prepare for those possibilities before they become recurring problems.
City Plans Coordinated Outreach and Public Safety Response
The city's proposed approach brings together several departments and service providers rather than leaving responsibility to police alone.
The Beverly Hills Outreach Team will help engage people experiencing homelessness and connect them with appropriate services. Fire Department Human Services personnel, mental health clinicians, contracted outreach workers and other city staff will also participate.
The Beverly Hills Police Department will remain responsible for law enforcement, including responding to criminal activity, trespassing complaints and public safety concerns.
Public Works and sanitation personnel will address maintenance needs around the station, while park rangers and contracted security teams will provide additional assistance.
According to the city's December staff report, officials are particularly focused on the hours when passengers may exit the last trains. Staff anticipate that the busiest period could occur between approximately 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., although actual patterns won't be known until service begins.
The city intends to use its existing around-the-clock response system while coordinating with Metro's own security and homelessness outreach teams.
Businesses Will Receive Guidance Before the Opening
Businesses and property owners near Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards are also part of the city's preparations.
Human Services personnel plan to contact businesses along the Wilshire corridor and throughout Beverly Hills' commercial districts, explaining how to report concerns and request assistance.
The city is also seeking trespass enforcement authorizations from certain property owners. These agreements would allow police to respond to unauthorized entry on qualifying private properties under applicable law.
Officials want business owners to understand when to contact emergency responders, when to use non-emergency services and how to request homelessness outreach assistance.
The approach combines enforcement with referrals to services, although the effectiveness of that balance will depend on how the plan operates once the station opens.
Homelessness Outreach Will Be Part of the Response
City officials have emphasized that people experiencing homelessness should be offered assistance, not simply treated as a public safety problem.
Councilmember John Mirisch said Beverly Hills must protect its community while ensuring that individuals experiencing homelessness can receive the help they need.
Mayor Sharona Nazarian also called for a coordinated response that considers both community concerns and the circumstances facing vulnerable individuals.
Metro already works with contracted outreach organizations that help connect unhoused passengers with available services. Beverly Hills intends to coordinate with those teams rather than establish an entirely separate response.
That cooperation could be especially important during the station's first months, when officials are still learning how many people are arriving, what assistance they need and whether existing resources are sufficient.
What Happens After the Subway Opens?
The city plans to monitor late-night passenger activity, homelessness outreach contacts, service referrals, sanitation conditions and calls for assistance.
Departments will meet regularly to review the information and adjust their response as needed.
The December staff report anticipates using primarily existing city resources, although additional temporary staffing or services could be considered if demand increases.
The Wilshire/La Cienega station is expected to remain the D Line's western endpoint until the next extension, including the Beverly Drive and Century City stations, opens in 2027.
For Beverly Hills, the subway represents an important transportation improvement. It will provide another way for workers, residents and visitors to reach the city without driving.
But the opening also raises a broader question facing communities throughout Los Angeles County: how to expand public transportation while ensuring that people without stable housing have access to meaningful assistance.
Beverly Hills is preparing its response before the trains arrive. Whether that preparation translates into effective services and fewer problems around the station will become clearer once passengers begin using it.
Sources
Original reporting: Tabor Brewster, Beverly Press/Park Labrea News, December 31, 2025 (online); January 1, 2026 (print). Beverly Hills Prepares for Metro D Line Subway Extension Opening.
Official city records: City of Beverly Hills, December 16, 2025. Update on Homelessness Response Planning for Metro D Line Opening — Staff Report.
Related construction reporting: Beverly Press/Park Labrea News, December 31, 2025. Subway Work Continues Into New Year.
