A consultant hired by the city has recommended reducing Shoreline Drive from six lanes to four lanes between Queensway Drive and Ocean Boulevard — a project that was included last year in a long list of planned improvements across the city.
The recent report to the city by Walker Parking Consultants came as a result of a 2021 request by Councilmember Cindy Allen, who said at the time that “parking has become increasingly difficult for residents, businesses and visitors as Long Beach continues to grow and evolve.”
She added that new attractions including a concession stand (which opened last year) and the addition of a Wibit floating playground were likely to draw more visitors to the coast. The area is also now being considered for a potential new dog beach.
Allen specifically wanted the city to look at expanding the Alamitos Beach parking lot at 802 E. Ocean Blvd. and adding parking on Shoreline Drive and surrounding areas.
The consultants analyzed more than a year of paid parking data at the 146-spot Alamitos Beach parking lot and found that, with the exception of summer weekends, there was ample parking there in 2020-2021. They found the lot was less than 60% full every weekday, even between the peak season from April to August.
The consultants said adding a parking structure to the lot would create logistical problems and a large expense — between $6 million to $8.8 million — with little payoff. A structure would only add between 73 and 134 parking spots to the area, at a cost of between $51,600 to $105,100 per parking spot.
The consultants recommended moving forward with plans to reduce Shoreline Drive to four lanes — two south/west lanes and two north/east lanes — which would potentially allow for 134 added diagonal parking spaces along the thoroughfare.
The city has already allocated $600,000 in Measure A sales tax funds for this work as part of a $214 million infrastructure plan through 2027 ahead of the Olympics the following year.
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A separate project that is a much larger and more expensive effort would also realign Shoreline Drive to the west where it meets the 710 Freeway to improve traffic flow and allow for more usable green space at Cesar Chavez Park.
Before proceeding on parking plans for Shoreline, the city would need to do outreach with groups such as the Grand Prix, which uses that stretch during race weekend in April, and the Convention Center, the consultants noted.
A more detailed technical analysis would also be needed to determine the feasibility of this kind of “road diet” intended to reduce vehicular traffic and encourage other modes of transportation.
City staff said they would also act upon other recommendations by the consulting firm, including:
- By Sept. 30, they will devise an implementation plan for an e-scooter parking zone and BikeShare hub at or near the Alamitos Beach parking lot.
- Investigate the feasibility and potential costs of integrating electric bike charging stations into the newly opened concession area or the Alamitos Beach parking lot.
- Identify shared parking opportunities as new developments arise in the area.
- Continue promoting the use of the LB Circuit free electric shuttle launched in the Downtown-Alamitos Beach service area in 2022.