The City of Long Beach will pour $34 million into a two-year, 2-mile infrastructure project on the westside, deemed the Pacific Avenue Corridor Improvements Project. This stretch of Pacific Avenue between Pacific Coast Highway and Wardlow Road is one of the busiest in the city, and has been identified as the fourth most dangerous corridor for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Long Beach’s Transportation Project Management Bureau, within the Public Works Department, presented preliminary designs, goals and a brief timeline during a virtual meeting Wednesday evening.
According to data between 2018 and 2022, this corridor has had five fatal collisions and 292 pedestrian/bicyclist crashes during that timeframe. The Pacific Avenue Corridor Improvement Project will directly address four high-injury intersections: two vehicle and two pedestrian/bicycle.
Some highlights of the project include:
- Bus shelters: 23 new bus shelters will be installed at existing stops, and some bus stops will be moved to accommodate new bike lanes
- ADA accessibility: 33 new ADA-compliant ramps will be constructed, as well as 12 curb extensions/bulb-outs and revamped sidewalks at multiple locations
- Traffic signals: Six intersections will be receiving traffic signals for the first time, while existing signals will be upgraded. The City will also be implementing corridor-wide coordination between signals, managed by video surveillance.
- Roadway improvements: New pavement striping and signs will be installed, while roads will receive resurfacing
- Bike lanes: The corridor will receive 3.2 miles of newly striped class II bike lanes, as well as 0.8 miles of class IV bike lanes (with a physical barrier)
Most of the funding for this $34 million project comes from a grant via Safe Streets and Roads For All, a federal program that has so far distributed $3.9 billion to cities to “prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries.” That grant accounts for 73%, or roughly $24.8 million of the project’s funding, while Long Beach is paying for the remaining 27%, or roughly $9 million…