The City of Long Beach is making strides in its efforts to create a safer and more accessible city for cyclists and pedestrians. A community meeting has been scheduled by the Department of Public Works to discuss the upcoming Orange Avenue Backbone Bikeway project. Slated for February 13,, the meeting will take place at the Expo Arts Center and run from 6 to 7 p.m., as reported by the City of Long Beach.
With an eye on eradicating traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2026, the project draws from the city's Vision Zero Action Plan and the Safe Streets Long Beach initiative. Citing the alarming rate of traffic collisions on Orange Avenue, the proposed improvements are comprehensive. They include the construction of protected bike lanes for a continuous bikeway, protected intersections, and more conspicuous crosswalks, alongside accessibility enhancements for pedestrians and public transit users.
During the town hall, project representatives will share a detailed presentation on these enhancements, according to the City of Long Beach. This will be followed by a session for community members to voice their questions and offer feedback. Furthermore, the City is taking steps to be inclusive, with interpretation services available in Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog. Parents interested in attending should note that children are encouraged to join, and light refreshments are on the menu.
The project is a significant slice of the Elevate '28 initiative, an estimated $30 million historic investment towards revitalizing Long Beach. As per information shared by the City of Long Beach, bidding for the Orange Avenue Backbone Bikeway is expected to commence by late summer of 2025, with construction projected to start in late winter the same year.
Those looking for more details on this and other infrastructural undertakings can visit Long Beach's dedicated project page or reach out via email at [email protected]. Questions from the media can be directed to Jocelin Padilla-Razo, the Community Information Officer at the Department of Public Works, at the provided contact details.
