Long Beach Public Works to Host Community Meeting on Second Pacific Avenue Project

City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Department of Public Works will host a community meeting to share information on the proposed Pacific Avenue (North) Corridor Improvements Project, a major transportation investment that will improve safety, accessibility and connectivity along Pacific Avenue between Pacific Coast Highway and Wardlow Road. The virtual meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Consistent with the City's Safe Streets Long Beach Action Plan, Long Beach's implementation of Vision Zero and the Complete Streets approach, the project will reimagine approximately two miles of Pacific Avenue from Pacific Coast Highway to Wardlow Road to improve safety, accessibility and overall corridor connectivity for all roadway users.

Planned improvements include full roadway rehabilitation, six new signalized intersections, upgraded traffic signals, new crosswalks, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant sidewalks and more than 30 new curb ramps, curb extensions and transit improvements with 13 new shelters at existing bus stops. The project will also add approximately two miles of bicycle infrastructure along the corridor, including striped bike lanes between Pacific Coast Highway and West 31st Street and a new physically separated two-way bikeway between West 31st Street and Wardlow Road.

At the informational meeting, City staff will present an overview of the Pacific Avenue (North) Corridor Improvements Project, including proposed design features, safety benefits and the anticipated project timeline. Community members will have the opportunity to speak directly with project team members, engage with visual displays and ask questions. Interpretation services will be provided in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog.

Development of the project has been informed by extensive community engagement, including public workshops, neighborhood presentations, focus groups and pop-up events. Community feedback consistently identified street design and infrastructure improvements as a top priority for reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries.

The Pacific Avenue (North) Corridor Improvements Project is funded primarily through a $25 million United States Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant, along with Metro Measure R and local Measure A funding.

Pacific Avenue is identified in the Safe Streets Long Beach High-Injury Network as one of the City's most dangerous corridors for pedestrians and bicyclists. Between 2018 and 2022, the northern segment experienced nearly 300 reported collisions, including five fatal collisions. Existing roadway conditions, including high vehicle speeds, crossing challenges and gaps in bicycle infrastructure, contribute to elevated safety risks for vulnerable roadway users.

The City is also preparing for the construction of the Pacific Avenue (South) Transformation Project between Ocean Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway. Because SS4A funds are specifically intended for projects that reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries, the Pacific Avenue (North) Project focuses on safety improvements such as new traffic signals, enhanced crossings, bicycle facilities, ADA upgrades and roadway rehabilitation while maintaining the corridor's existing vehicle capacity. Alternatively, the Pacific Avenue (South) Transformation Project, funded through the California Active Transportation Program and a Surface Transportation Block Grant, will include a major reconfiguration of the current travel lanes. Together, these improvements will create a safer, more connected corridor along nearly the entire length of Pacific Avenue.

Construction of the Pacific Avenue (North) Corridor Improvements Project is anticipated to begin in late 2026, following the start of construction on the Pacific Avenue (South) Transformation Project in fall 2026. Construction of the northern segment is expected to take approximately 12 months.

This project is part of the Elevate '28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, which has grown to more than $1 billion in funding for nearly 200 projects designed to revitalize parks and community facilities while enhancing accessibility and multimodal transportation throughout Long Beach. More information about the historic investment in infrastructure currently underway is available at lbelevate28.com.

For more information about the Pacific Avenue (North) Corridor Improvements Project and how to participate in or submit questions ahead of the meeting, visit Lbcity.info/pacificavenorth.

Media inquiries may be directed to Jocelin Padilla-Razo, Community Information Officer, Department of Public Works, at 562.570.4668 or [email protected].