Photo by Ricklyn Hukriede

3:45pm | Earlier this week, Long Beach Transit announced in a press release that reductions in public transportation services will be enacted beginning this fall school semester.

Transit says that the three-percent service reduction will cause longer waiting times for some LBUSD students on certain routes (full list below). Transit CEO Larry Jackson said that there was no choice but to restrict services because of economic difficulties and reductions in state transit funding.

In the past two years, two far increases were instituted and Transit adopted several cost-reduction strategies to avoid cutting services. At the same time, however, funding from transit subsidies fell by 20% and drastic measure were needed.

Those most affected will be LBUSD students. The school district was forced to reduce bus services last year due to their own budget, and Transit increased routes to make up some of the difference. They will not be able to provide that service again this fall. Jackson urges parents to contact schools to find alternative transportation options.

“The economy and the state’s decision to cut transit funding have had a huge impact on transit systems throughout California,” Jackson said. “While these LBT service reductions will definitely inconvenience our customers, they are nowhere near what is being experienced in other parts of the state.”

Fewer buses will serve certain routes, but Jackson said that customers can expect longer wait times.

“We have worked to minimize the impact these reductions will have on the community,” Jackson said. “However, everyone should be prepared to wait a little longer for the next bus.”

Transit has not fired employees but has reduced its staff by about 30 people through attrition and unfilled positions.

A full list of reductions and changes is below.

Long Beach Transit Budget Adoption and Service Reductions

  • Route 1/Easy Avenue—Change weekday service frequency from every 20 to every 30 minutes.
  • Route 66/Atlantic Ave.—Delete ZAP buses from Atlantic Ave. service. Regular Atlantic Ave. buses will continue to operate as often as every 12 minutes.
  • Route 71-72/Orange Ave.—Change weekday service frequency from every 20 to every 30 minutes.
  • Route 96/Seventh St.—Delete ZAP buses during non-school periods and the weeks of Thanksgiving,
  • Christmas and New Years. Regular 7th St. buses will continue to operate as often as every 7 minutes.
  • Route 101-102-103/Carson St-Spring St.-Lakewood—Peak hour service on Route 103 will operate on school days only.
  • Route 172-173/PCH-Palo Verde-Studebaker—Service on 172/PCH-Palo Verde will stop at Los Cerritos
  • Mall on weekdays. Customers wishing to travel to the Norwalk Green Line Station will be able to transfer to Route 173.
  • Route 181-182/Magnolia-Pacific—Evening service will be reduced from every 20 to every 30 minutes.
  • Passport B/4th St.—Evening service will be reduced from every 20 to every 30 minutes.
  • Passport C/Pine Ave.-Queen Mary—Evening service will be reduced from every 15 to every 20 minutes.
  • Holiday Service—Schedules will be reduced by approximately 25% on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.
  • Minor reductions in frequency of certain early morning and evening service on various routes.