A proposal that could potentially benefit several thousand Cal State Long Beach students has residents of an affluent Long Beach neighborhood upset.
At a Long Beach Transit public hearing in front of the City Council, community members voiced their opinions and concerns regarding proposed changes to Long Beach bus routes Monday afternoon.
The most controversial debate at the hearing focused on a roughly one-mile stretch on the new route proposed for Passport B. The route would run from downtown on Fourth Street toward Colorado Lagoon Park and Marina Vista Park. The route ultimately reaches CSULB from North Bellflower Boulevard.
It’s the link required to get from Fourth Street to Bellflower Boulevard, which would travel down Appian Way and Eliot Street, that has residents of the surrounding community taking a stand against the planned change. This area is just northeast of Belmont Shore.
Those residents said the route is an ill-conceived plan — a plan that would pose danger to children playing in the local parks and community, pollute the peaceful serenity of their bay-nestled neighborhoods with noise and stink up the clean ocean air with smog. They were also concerned about having a bus route running near their homes and what that would do to the value of real estate in the community.
Yelena Kushniruk, whose daughter is a CSULB student, lives in the vicinity of the controversial route.
“It’s a residential neighborhood and nobody wants a bus in front of their house,” Kushniruk said. “It’s a very high-end neighborhood. We all went to school, but believe me, the last thing we want every 10 minutes is another bus.”
Kushniruk said the average value of the homes there is more than $1 million.
“It’s not even the value,” she said. “It’s our lifestyle; it’s a safety and health hazard.”
In support of the new Passport B route were several CSULB students; among them was Associated Students Inc. President Chris Chavez, flanked by ASI Vice President Omar Gonzalez and ASI Secretary for City Affairs Matt Barnett. ASI hailed the proposal as a boon for students at a time when they could use it most after several fee increases.
“We have received a lot of support from our students and from the campus community as a whole,” Chavez said. “We collected over 500 signature cards [supporting the plan]. That’s the most I’ve ever seen ASI collect regarding anything.”
Chavez said he had not been down the proposed route on Eliot Street.
“I understand their concerns and we are open to looking at compromises,” Chavez said. “So long as Fourth Street is getting that extra amount of service, I think we’ve accomplished our goal at the end of the day.”
The U-Pass, which allows students to ride city transit without paying out of their own pocket, has had increased usage since its implementation. Chavez said about 9,000 students have used the service since its expansion last school year.
The discussion regarding the new bus routes has been coming to a head since the proposed changes were publicized in late August. Many routes are going to be revamped and new stops will be added should the proposal go through. If approved, the new bus schedules and routes would take effect in February 2010.
While many business owners and students supported the proposed changes, some Long Beach residents had their own issues expressing frustration with the plan, specifically about the curbing of Passport D service to Los Altos Market Center, north of CSULB. If the changes are approved, Passport D will instead trek down Atherton Street toward the roundabout on Pacific Coast Highway.
“The seniors are getting a boot any way you look at it,” Long Beach resident Dolores Tucker said. “I am very disheartened right now; I use a walker and it seems the seniors are always pushed in the back of the bus.”
The largest crowd approval came after resident Joanne Lara asked a pointed question.
“Does the person that makes up these routes ever ride the bus?” Lara said.
- ASI gathers student support for new bus routes
- LB Transit proposal draws fire
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