The calendar turns from 2024 to 2025, and it's once again to take a look back at what's coming in the year ahead.
Looking back on the prior version of this list from 2024, some of what was expected came to pass - the Arts District's first high-rise opened and Hollywood Burbank Airport broke ground on its $1.3-billion replacement terminal. The rest of the list wound up being more of a mixed bag. Market conditions continue to be unfavorable for high-rise construction in hubs like Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Long Beach, and public-sector projects like the LAX People Mover have been beset by delays and cost overruns, or political obstacles in the case of the Dodger Stadium Gondola.
Anyway, here's what we're going to be keeping an eye on in 2025.
Aerial view of the expanded Convention Center and Downtown Los AngelesPopulous
With more than 15 years of attempts now behind us, we are fast approaching the point of no return on the Los Angeles Convention Center expansion. Last year, different factions within Los Angeles City Hall debated the merits of moving forward with the project in the midst of a budget crisis, and with an increasingly limited window to complete construction, due to the Convention Center's status as a venue in the 2028 Olympics. The voices in favor of the expansion eventually won out, with the City Council opting to move forward with the project as part of a public-private partnership with Plenary Group and Convention Center operator AEG.
When completed, the expansion will include 190,000 square feet of new exhibit hall space, 55,000 square feet of meeting room space, 95,000 square feet of multi-purpose space, and makeovers of Gilbert Lindsey Plaza and a stretch of Pico Boulevard. Those additions would increase the total footprint of the Convention Center to more than 1 million square feet, allowing it to better compete for large events against rival facilities in Anaheim and San Francisco. Work is expected to begin in 2025.
LAX/Metro Transit Center Station
View of 96th Street Station from Aviation BoulevardGrimshaw Architects
Another repeat appearance, the new LAX/Metro Transit Center Station is slated to make its debut sometime in the first quarter of 2025. The more than $900-million transit hub, previously slated to open in late 2024, will serve both the C and K Lines, as well as a number of bus lines (and maybe a Sepulveda subway and a Lincoln Boulevard BRT line at some unspecified future date). Its most important connection in the short term will be to star-crossed LAX People Mover, which has seen its expected opening date slip to early 2026.
Section 1 of the D Line Extension
Purple Line extensionMetro
It took more than 40 years, the overturn of a federal law, and two ballot initiatives, but it's really happening: the first phase of Metro's D/Purple Line extension is slated to open in 2025. Sneak previews have already shown up on social media, but the Section 1 of the project will extend nearly four miles and include three stops at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega in Beverly Hills.
The full project, which will cost more than $9 billion at the end of the day, extends approximately nine miles and will include stations at Wilshire/Rodeo, Century City, Wilshire/Westwood, and the VA campus. The extension is expected to attract more than 53,000 new daily riders, while providing a ride from the Westside to Downtown in under 30 minutes.
Map of the Foothill Gold Line ExtensionMetro
An extension that took considerably less time to build, the next phase of the A/Gold Line is set to open in 2025 as well. In addition to a new terminus in Pomona, plans call for stations in Glendora, San Dimas, and La Verne, adding on to what is already the longest light rail line in the world at 49 miles. And the A Line will continue to grow - funding was released by state transportation officials last year for a 3.2-mile extension from Pomona to Montclair, pushing Metro Rail into San Bernardino County.
East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Line
Rendering of Victory Station on East San Fernando Valley light rail lineMetro
Utility and prep work has been underway for some time now, but construction is expected to begin in earnest this year for Metro's East San Fernando Valley Line - a 6.7-mile light rail line built within the median of Van Nuys Boulevard. The project corridor will include 11 stations, and is slated to open to the public by 2031. Not included from the original scope of the project is 2.5 miles of corridor within a Metrolink right-of-way feeding into Sylmar/San Fernando Station, where Metro is considering building an infill regional rail stop in lieu of new light rail tracks that would duplicate existing service.
The Van Nuys light rail line, in addition to reintroducing light rail to the San Fernando Valley for the first time since the 1950s, will also connect to other services including Metrolink's Ventura County Line, the G Line Busway, and eventually the Sepulveda Pass rail line.
G Line Improvements projectMetro
Speaking of the G Line, Metro is poised to invest $668 million in upgrades to the 18-mile corridor which would improve speeds and reliability for passengers. The list of improvements includes gated crossings at 13 intersections (down from 35 originally planned) and grade separated crossings at Van Nuys and Sepulveda Boulevards. Completion is expected in either 2027 or 2028.
Rendering of the Siemens American Pioneer 220 in Brightline West liverySiemens / Brightline West
Although a ceremonial groundbreaking occurred last April, this year is to be when heavy construction for the Brightline West high-speed rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas really ramps up. The $12-billion project, covered in part by more than $6.5 billion in federal funding, will span 218 miles within the right-of-way of the Interstate 15 Freeway between the Vegas Strip and Rancho Cucamonga. Trains could run at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour.
Looking West from Fox Hills ParketteKFA Architecture
Last year, the Culver City City Council approved a proposal from Highmark Advisors and Lincoln Property Company to redevelop an office building at 5700 Hannum Avenue in Fox Hills with 309 apartments and 5,600 square feet of retail space. While this may seem a relatively modest entry to this list, it represents the tip of the iceberg for would could be a significant development boom in the Fox Hills area. Driven by state obligations to zone for more housing, Culver City rezoned much of the Fox Hills area to accommodate new density. Given the large development sites, often owned by single entities, there are now thousands of new homes in the pipelines for the area.
The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center
Aerial View of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space CenterZGF
While its debut to the public may be further down the line, physical construction is expected to be completed in 2025 for the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, the permanent home of Space Shuttle Endeavor. The 20-story structure, in Exposition Park, costs $400 million and roughly doubles the size of the California Science Center
Aerial view looking northwestTorti-Gallas + Partners
Also keep an eye on the southeast corner of Exposition Park, where state officials have allocated $352 million to realize a key element of the park's master plan. Before the start of the 2028 Olympics, when Exposition Park is set to play a key role, surface parking lots abutting BMO Stadium are to be buried underground and capped with six acres of park space.
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Any other items to keep an eye on during 2024? Let us know in the comments below.
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