MetroRiderLA

Long Beach Transit is surveying customers to find out about transit needs in the City:

http://lbtransit.com/transportationsurvey/

You can tell them what you think are the biggest transit problems, and what solutions you would prefer.

If you live in the area, fill this out!

2nd District City Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal is flaunting her progressive creds by asking the City Council to fund a study to create an East-West rail line in Long Beach. The proposed line, whose route is not yet determined would connect downtown with points of interest on the east side, such as CSULB.

You can read about it in the Long Beach Press-Telegram:
http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_5890224

I am delighted to see this being discussed!

Now let me put on my Negative-Nancy face:
It’s really annoying that all this transit planning occurs on a local level. We have a REGIONAL transit problem. A short-distance rail will be of limited use to those of us who commute around LA and Orange Counties (as so many Long Beach-ies do).

But when you have an incompetent County Board of Supes in charge, it’s up to the few broad-minded municipalities to take on this burden….

Here’s a link to the mobility chapter of the Griffith Park Master Plan.

My quick take is that there is heavy emphasis on accomodating cars, little-to-no emphasis on encouraging public transit or cyclists.

What do you guys think?

So I contacted LB transit about my idea for a ferry from Long Beach to the West Side.

I got a quick response, saying that the idea was “out of their ballpark” but that they would pass the idea on to the planning department. Where it will receive, I assume, a proper burial with all due respect.

Still, doesn’t it sound like a good idea for those of us unwilling to wait for the fabled red line extension?

Raphael