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Recommendation to request City Manager to work with Long Beach Transit, Downtown Long Beach Associates and the Promenade Area Residents Association to reach consensus on a new name for the Transit Mall and forward the name to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for approval.
DISCUSSION
The Transit Mall station was originally constructed in 1982 with local, state and federal funding intended to create a state-of-the-art multi-modal transit hub serving the region. After decades of wear and tear, the transit mall underwent $7 million renovation in 2010/11, made possible by federal stimulus funding. It currently serves an average of 20,000 commuters daily, and accommodates passengers taking Long Beach Transit buses, Metro Blue Line trains and buses and Torrance Transit. It was officially reopened on June 2, 2011.
Improved night lighting, newly designed bus shelters, marine habitat-themed public art, and upgraded landscaping support a recently improved transit and visitor information center offering a comprehensive list of services such as bus pass sales, real-time transit schedule display, touch-screen kiosk with 24 hour transit information, ID card processing for Seniors, Students, Legally blind & LBT Dependents, Lost and found services, customer & visitor service and three ADA-accessible windows. Also important to note are downtown Long Beach’s first public restrooms with a dedicated attendant for custodial and surveillance services.
In recognition of the major renovations to First Street and other facilities such as the Promenade and the Bikestation, Long Beach Transit asked MTA to consider a new name for the Transit Mall. A name suggested by LB Transit was “First Street Transit Gallery”. However, it is appropriate for the City and relevant stakeholders such as LB Transit, DLBA and the Promenade Area Residents Association to submit a mutually agreed upon name. According to MTA’s policy for naming transit centers and facilities, name...
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