The Gerald Desmond Bridge, linking Terminal Island to Long Beach, is the subject of a debate which may hurt the Port of Long Beach’s claim to be green.
Due to maintenance problems and the current clearance height not accommodating larger ships, the Port plans to replace the bridge by 2014. This project, which would create the first long-span cable-stayed bridge in California, is estimated to cost $950 million. The project Environmental Impact Report was certified by the Long Beach City Council on September 28, 2010.
Unfortunately, the original plans did not address consideration for Class 1 bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Though the City Staff and City Council strongly suggested that the Port include such facilities, and there’s a consensus among City of Long Beach staff and the bicycling community, that adding such facilities is appropriate; no mandate exists.
However, both the Federal Government (US Code (23 U.S.C. 217) and the State of California (SHC 888, DPDM & Ch. 31; CalTrans DD 64 R-1) have clear policies stating their agency responsibilities to provide transportation alternatives on all new public infrastructure projects. And while the Port is providing approximately $114 million to the project, California tax-payers are providing nearly $500 million and Federal taxpayers another $200-plus million to build the new Bridge.
A local group called “Off the Front,” is gathering bicycle and pedestrian supporters to petition the Port of Long Beach and the Harbor Commissioners so that Class I facilities will become a requirement for new Bridge construction.
“It comes down to priorities,” said cycling advocate Mark Bixby. “A truly ‘Green’ Port would include bicycling and pedestrian transportation options for the 6,000 people working on Terminal Island, and for all California Coastal Trail cyclists, walkers and runners.”
After pressure from bicycle advocates, the Port has moved to revise the design to include the infrastructure to add bicycle lanes in the future, and if they can afford to, but Bixby believes that bolting on a bike and pedestrian facilities later will be much more expensive. “It’s not enough to just design it into the bridge; state and federal law require them to build it.”
“Done right, Long Beach will complete step one, a bridge to Terminal Island for bicyclists and pedestrians that will eventually connect bike and pedestrian paths across the Vincent Thomas Bridge to San Pedro.
To learn more about this movement, visit www.wheelturns.com.
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