Peter Douglas, Exec. Dir., CA Coastal Commission, November 19, 2010

“We have told the Port and the City and Caltrans that they need to build in a bike pedestrian path into this bridge. That from our perspective, it is not enough to just design it into the bridge; they have to actually construct it. The problem is that the connectors raise some real significant issues for them, and we think that there are ways to deal with that.  So we’re not saying it has to be opened immediately, but at least it has to be built-in at the beginning, so that we don’t face the prospect of a bridge that’s completed, and then we have to come back to say, ‘now you’ve got to add the bike path and the pedestrian path.’ So we’re with you on this; and we also feel that the Port and the City and Caltrans recognize this and are going to do the right thing here and if they don’ t, this commission is going to see this bridge (project again).”

- Peter Douglas, Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission, updating the Commission on staff discussions about the Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement project, following testimony from Long Beach cycling advocates Andrea White-Kjoss, Alan Crawford and Mark Bixby.

The Case for Bike / Ped on the new Gerald Desmond Bridge

Bicycle/Pedestrian access on proposed Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement project is an essential transportation facility and should be integral to the new Gerald Desmond Bridge design. A bicycle/ pedestrian pathway would:

Benefit the Traveling Public by:

• Providing bike/pedestrian access between Downtown Long Beach and Terminal, and eventually San Pedro when the Vincent Thomas Bridge has a bike/ped facility added
• Providing for a transportation alternative to motor vehicles
• Reducing worker injuries and fatalities, and property damage (many collisions take place within construction zones) by allowing maintenance to be based on the pathway, eliminating the need for many lane closures
• Reducing delays caused by lane closures for maintenance
• Connecting existing trails to Terminal Island:  the new Downtown Long Beach commuter routes on 3^rd Street & Broadway Street; the waterfront Shoreline Village trails; the new Port of Long Beach Queen Mary trail; the Regional Los Angeles River Trail
• Eventually linking the California Coastal Trail from San Pedro to Long Beach

Benefit the workers and visitors to Terminal Island by:

• Providing non-motorized access directly to the island, especially important as transport for workers who could use bicycle transportation versus motor vehicles
• Increase visits through Terminal Island and into and out of Downtown Long Beach

Benefit the Tourism Industry by:

• Providing unparalleled views of Downtown Long Beach and Port of Long Beach to pedestrians and cyclists
• Completing the first half of a longstanding gap in the California Coastal Trail
• When a Vincent Thomas bridge bike/ped facility is installed, the route will drive traffic into and through Downtown Long Beach
• Enhancing the image of the City of Long Beach as bicycle-friendly
• Enhancing the image of the Port of Long Beach as a Green Port

Benefit emergency response efforts by:

• Providing access for small emergency vehicles (Cushman-type)
• Providing a safety refuge for motorists who break down to get out of the roadway

California Coastal Commission Goals for the Coastal Trail

The new Gerald Desmond Bridge would provide the first half of the path to connect Long Beach to San Pedro along the California Coastal Trail. The second half can be accomplished with the addition of a bike/ped path on the southern side of the Vincent Thomas Bridge (stay tuned for more information on the effort to make this happen.)

The California Coastal Conservancy has six goals for the California Coastal Trail:

1. To “provide a continuous trail as close to the ocean as possible”

2. To have full support of the state

3. To better the public’s knowledge of the good that will come with the California Coastal Trail

4. To have all the policies related to the trail respect the rights of the private landowners (SB 908)

5. To design the trail to create positive experiences for the public while at the same time protecting the environment

6. To have the trail connect to other trail systems and provide a way to the coastal area from urban areas.

The conservancy expects that the trail will improve the economy. The trail will attract tourists, create jobs, and make selling surrounding real estate easier. The trail is also hoped to protect the environment. People looking to enjoy nature can do so without hurting sensitive areas if they stay on the trail. Another goal is to improve quality of life through recreation by encouraging people to use the trail for exercise.

Finally, the conservancy wants people to think of trails as a means of transportation (SB 908 Report 9). To achieve these goals the trail must meet four requirements. It must always be within sight or sound of the ocean. It must serve as a starting point to reach various destinations. It must be separated from all motor traffic. It must respect the current environment and not disrupt the natural habitat. (Thanks Wikipedia!)