The Port of Long Beach continues to show their leadership in being Green by including a bike and pedestrian path as a mandatory part of the new bridge that will connect downtown Long Beach and the Port.

At a meeting held at the port on Thursday March 31, Dr Bob Kanter, Director of Environmental Planning for the port of Long Beach, shared the wording that will be used in the bridge RFP (request for proposal).

Specifically the proposal will say:

The Project’s scope of Work includes the design and construction…of a cable-stayed bridge, the bridge’s associated approach and ramp network, and a Class 1 bikeway and pedestrian facility.  The Class 1 bikeway and pedestrian facility shall be a non-motorized facility constructed as an integral component of the cable-stayed bridge.

Bicycle and pedestrian facilities shall be consistent with regional bicycle and pedestrian plans, comply with environmental approvals, and accommodate existing bicycle and pedestrian paths and crossings and on-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

The design-builder shall provide a continuous non-motorized Class 1 bikeway (bikepath) and pedestrian facility connecting SR 47 to Pico Avenue.  The western termination point shall be at..SR 77 and Ocean Boulevard.  The eastern termination point shall be at the intersection of Pico Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.

A link to the full document is included at the bottom of this post.

We would like to thank the Port, Dr.  Bob Kanter and his staff, the Port Commissioners, in particular Commissioner Mario Cordero, Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal and members of the Coastal Commission for the leadership and cooperation they have shown in making this happen.  Six short months ago the idea of having a bike and pedestrian path on the new bridge was at best a dream.  But through the leadership of Mark Bixby and the cooperative efforts of the port, our political leaders, the Coastal Commission and organizations such as the Sierra Club, the local cycling organizations and the community…we will have a bike and pedestrian path on, as Commissioner Cordero says, “the bridge to everywhere…that is a bridge for everyone.”

The RFP is scheduled to be issued later this spring with final bids received in late 2011.  It is anticipated that the bridge, complete with the separated bike and pedestrian facility, will be open by mid 2017.

Under  Commissioner Cordero’s leadership the port has also been asked to look at implementing a bike-friendly port policy that would be intended to make it safe for people, such as port workers,  to ride into the port.   Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal, whose district encompasses the port, has suggested that this be included in the Long Beach Bike Master Plan, which is currently being update. Bikeable Communities will continue to work with the port and the city to help make this happen.

We are also looking to work with the Port of LA, the Los Angeles County Bike Coalition (LACBC) and the City of LA to explore options for creating a bike and pedestrian facility on the Vincent Thomas Bridge, which will allow riders to go along the coast from Palos Verdes and San Pedro to Long Beach and beyond.

Once again…thanks to everyone for their great effort to bring the dream of a bike and pedestrian path on the new Port of Long Beach bridge a step closer to reality.

The Bikeable Communities Team

 

Managing Director GDB Replacement and Bid Docs Regarding Bike Path Info Only (2)