TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to approve intermittent closure of certain non-arterial, neighborhood streets, as identified, to through vehicular traffic for increased outdoor activities, and a stronger economic recovery, all while maintaining appropriate physical distancing and adherence to the current Safer at Home Health Order; and
Authorize City Traffic Engineer to review and adjust identified neighborhood street boundaries and closure hours, as necessary. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On May 19, 2020, the City Council requested the City Manager to create an open streets initiative and explore ways to open more public space throughout Long Beach to allow for increased outdoor activities and stronger economic recovery, while maintaining appropriate physical distancing, in accordance with the current Safer at Home Health Order (Health Order).
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have tremendous impacts on our health and economy, staff are looking at creative measures to opening space by limiting cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets and repurposing these areas for active transportation such as walking, bicycling, and wheelchair rolling to activate neighborhoods. Adding more open public space will make it easier for people to move throughout the city and for businesses to survive, by providing more opportunities for alternate transportation modalities in a safe environment, while ensuring the necessary physical distancing.
The Public Works Department (PW) has worked with City Council offices and business districts to identify key neighborhood streets throughout the city to support these efforts. Attachment A outlines all proposed streets for intermittent closure through October 31, 2020. The recommended closure of the proposed streets is Monday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. The City Traffic Engineer may review and adjust as necessary to support needs as identified after implementation.
Neighborhood closures wil...
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