Los Angeles residents have been waiting for the Metro D line to extend its reach down Wilshire Boulevard for more than a decade, and the time has finally come to unveil the new extension. Stations at La Brea Avenue, Fairfax Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard will open Friday, giving riders the ability to get from Beverly Hills to Downtown L.A. in an gridlock-busting 20 minutes. Though the city continues to be almost hopelessly car-centric, the extension of the D line is a huge step for those Angelenos willing to give the Metro a chance — and possibly save a lot of sitting in traffic at the same time. Actor Ed Begley Jr. , a longtime environmentalist and advocate for public transit, says he plans to be there opening day. “I will ride it regularly,” he predicts. Popular on Variety “Jerry Maguire” actor Jerry O’Connell will host the opening ceremonies Friday morning atop the Petersen Museum, which is adjacent to the new Fairfax station.…