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Community Corner

Youths Welcome Subway in Beverly Hills

Metro's proposed 'Direct Connection' subway plans give local teens a chance to get out of town.

Recent meetings about the extension of the Metro subway system through Beverly Hills have caused much excitement and controversy among local teens.

The proposed "Direct Connection" would bring a subway through the city along Wilshire Boulevard, or possibly Santa Monica Boulevard, and potentially go all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Details have yet to be finalized.

I have known about Metro's existence as a public transit option for many years now, yet I still hesitate to use it. The general unfamiliarity with the Los Angeles subway system, and its inaccessibility to youth in Beverly Hills, prevents my peers and me from ever using it. But that may all change if the subways extension is approved.

Find out what's happening in Beverly Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I would without question take advantage of the extended subway systems built in Los Angeles," said Daniel Mirharooni, 17, a Beverly Hills High School senior. In a world of car crashes and fuel pollution, Daniel noted the positive effects of the purple line extension. "The Metro will benefit the community by creating a safer and cleaner environment for generations to come."

The creation of a subway system with better accessibility for local youth can certainly influence Beverly Hills teens to stop depending on their own vehicles to get from place to place.

Find out what's happening in Beverly Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Being able to take a no-hassle trip to downtown or another distant part of Los Angeles for the price of a gallon of gas just makes perfect sense," Mirharooni said. "It is convenient and would lead to more students venturing out of Beverly Hills."

A major issue that could create an obstacle for the teenagers of Beverly Hills and their use of the subway would be giving up the convenience of their cars.

"I personally don't find much use in extending the subway system lines," said Niaz Yashar, 17, also a senior at BHHS. "I'm already capable of traveling to any part of the city that I'd like to go to by car, and I don't think that the simplicity of subway travel would change that feeling."

Still, the expansion of the subway system would give the city's teenagers more opportunities to take a tour of downtown Los Angeles, or spend the day laying on the beach in Santa Monica.

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