TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any necessary amendments, with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to partially offset costs for the Beach Streets University event; and
Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $216,000, offset by grant reimbursement revenue. (Districts 3,4,5)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to execute an agreement with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for the receipt of grant funding in the amount of $216,000, to partially offset costs for the Beach Streets University event.
In 2009, the City of Long Beach (City) announced its goal of becoming the most Bicycle Friendly City in America. Since then, bicycling and walking in the City have increased in popularity, with the number of people riding bikes nearly doubling citywide. Beach Streets, the City’s signature Open Streets events, celebrates sustainable and active transportation, local businesses, and communities in a comfortable, family-oriented environment. In addition, Beach Streets events promote first and last mile transit connections since many people arrive at these events using public transit service, such as Long Beach Transit and the Metro Blue Line.
In March 2019, staff pursued funding for Open Streets events through the Metro Fiscal Year 2020 Open Streets Grant Program, which provides Transit-Related Highway (Prop C 25 percent) funds for such events. In May 2019, Metro awarded the City $216,000 for the City’s eighth, full-scale Beach Streets event, Beach Streets University. The event will take place on March 21, 2020, transforming 4.1 miles of eastern Long Beach along Atherton Street adjacent to California State University Long Beach, Bellflower Boulevard, Los Coyotes Diagonal, and Spring Street into a car-free corridor for residents and visitors to walk, bike and shop. The event will be progr...
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