Long Beach expands free micro transit program
The city's 14 electric micro-shuttles now services Bluff Heights, Bluff Park and the rest of Belmont Heights, according to city officials.
Long Beach's free micro-transit service now has more vehicles and an expanded service area, city officials announced Monday.
Though the City Council authorized a larger LB Circuit program last September, the new vehicles and larger service area near the city's coastline didn't officially start until Thursday, June 19, according to a memo from Public Works Director Eric Lopez.
The LB Circuit service area now includes coverage in Bluff Heights, Bluff Park and a portion of Belmont Heights missed in earlier routes, city officials said. In Downtown, the service now reaches south to the Queen Mary and north to 10th Street between Atlantic and Magnolia Avenues.
Service hours have been extended by two hours on Sundays, with service ending at 8 p.m. instead of 6 p.m., according to the Public Works department.
The service schedule is now as follows:
- Thursday: 4 – 10 p.m.
- Friday: 4 – 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 12 – 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 – 8 p.m.
The LB Circuit fleet also now includes six new electric vehicles, four of which are SUVs with extended driving ranges and the other two being new ADA-accessible vans, city officials said.
This expands the fleet to 14 EVs, including the current six micro-shuttles that hold five passengers each and two other vehicles previously reserved for wheelchair accommodation requests. With more EVs now in service, those two standby vehicles will now handle service requests that don't require accessibility features, according to a statement from the Public Works department.
City officials anticipate that LB Circuit services will run at least through the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, during which Long Beach is slated to stage several sporting events for both games, according to the Public Works department.
LB Circuit has so far provided more than 130,000 free rides since it started in 2022, city officials said. In addition to reducing parking impacts in the service area, LB Circuit riders have helped prevent an estimated 27 tons of emissions with replaced vehicle trips, officials added.
“Long Beach is a leader in building a more connected, accessible and sustainable city through a varied and extensive transportation network,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement Monday. “This expansion of the LB Circuit is another option that helps people get where they need to go — whether it’s work, school, a medical appointment or a favorite restaurant — without having to rely on a personal car.”
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