With Angelenos confining themselves to their homes during the COVID-19 outbreak, the empty streets of Los Angeles may present an opportunity for Metro's Purple Line extension.

Streetsblog reports that due to the light traffic conditions during the crisis, the City of Beverly Hills is now considering amendments to its memorandum of agreement with Metro which could expedite subway construction. Under the revised agreement, Metro would be permitted to temporarily close Wilshire Boulevard between Crescent and Beverly Drives to allow for piling on the south side of the street. Additionally, Beverly Hills would lift some restrictions on construction hours and a moratorium on construction activities during Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, and Independence Day.

Metro would be required to conduct community outreach to surrounding businesses and residents to inform them of the revised agreement, according to a staff report.

Streetsblog reports that Metro's agreement with Beverly Hills previously called for 13 weekend closures over an approximately 3.5 month period starting in April and concluding in August. This schedule would put construction activities along this segment of the Purple Line on pace for completion in March 2021.

The revised plan would allow for the piling to be completed in just one month, putting construction activities on pace to conclude in September 2020 - six months ahead of schedule.

The seven-mile Purple Line extension, which will add seven new stations between the Mid-Wilshire area and Westwood, is anticipated to open in phases between 2023 and 2027.

Metro is currently in the midst of construction on several rail projects across Los Angeles County, including the Crenshaw/LAX Line and the Regional Connector subway tunnel in Downtown Los Angeles. Those projects are anticipated to open in late 2020 and mid-2022, respectively.