Long Beach : Blue Line Officials Want More Parking at 3 Stations

A parking shortage at three Metro Blue Line park-and-ride stations in Long Beach has prompted the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission to study ways to add 200 parking spaces at the Willow, Wardlow and Del Amo stations and possibly move the Wardlow station to another location.

In a report to the commission, the staff said parking is insufficient all along the Blue Line--most critically at the three Long Beach stations--and that, in time, it will limit increases in ridership.

Staff proposals include rebuilding existing parking lots at the Willow and Del Amo stations to add 100 and 50 new spaces, respectively. Angle parking would be installed on Pacific Place near the Wardlow station to add approximately 50 parking spaces. The staff is also calling for an environmental study on the possible relocation of the Wardlow station a mile and a half to the north, where there would be sufficient land for at least 500 parking spaces.

Parking improvements would involve cooperation with the city of Long Beach. Currently, the Willow station has 235 parking spaces, the Wardlow station 33 and Del Amo 314.