Major changes take effect this week on multiple Long Beach Transit (LBT) routes. But the biggest change is the creation of a new 11-mile 176 Zap Route.
NEW ROUTE: 176 ZAP
The new 176 ZAP was funded through a special federal operating grant--the Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act-A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)--scored by LBT. The program itself is intended to improve access to transportation services to employment and employment-related activities. LBT scored the second highest out of 12 projects from other agencies to receive said grant.
The 176 ZAP will travel between the west side near Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Fe Avenue and end at the Lakewood Mall above Long Beach Airport via Lakewood Boulevard.
The creation of the 176 was key in two major ways: it added another ZAP line to the fleet--meaning it only stops at major cross streets--and it deeply connects the westside (e.g. Cabrillo High School, Villages at Cabrillo, Technology Park, etc) with access to major connection points, mostly intended to help workers and students better commute as the purpose of the grant emphasized. It not only stops at the Blue Line, but also will connect riders to both Long Beach City College campuses, Kaiser, Long Beach Community Medical Center, CSULB's student housing on PCH, the hotel consortium on Lakewood, the airport, Douglas Park, Boeing, Lakewood High School, and as previously mentioned, the Lakewood Mall.
The first 176 pickup at Technology Place is at 6:46AM and will occur every thirty minutes after, with a total route time of 48 minutes.
ROUTE ALTERATIONS:
Routes 23 and 63 will now be replaced and synced with routes 21 and 61.
Route 23 used to formerly travel southbound from Del Amo Boulevard at Cherry Avenue towards the Transit Gallery. Riders will now have to take 21, which rides from Rosecrans Avenue at Cherry south on Cherry to the Transit Gallery downtown.
Route 63 used to formerly travel from Long Beach Boulevard at Artesia and head southbound on Atlantic Avenue towards the Transit Gallery. 61 will now take riders from the Artesia Station southbound on Atlantic towards the Transit Gallery.
INCREASED SERVICE TIMES:
- Route 91's morning peak service will increase to every 30 to 40 minutes.
- Route 93's afternoon peak service will increase to every 16 to 20 minutes, as well as operating an additional evening bus to help with those attending evening classes at both CSULB and LBCC.
- Route 121's morning peak service will increase every 10 minutes from the Outer Circle to the CSULB; service to downtown during the early evening will go to every 30 minutes.
- Route 171's morning and afternoon peaks will increase to every 15 minutes.
- Line 190 will increase to every 20 minutes on evenings during the weekend.
- Route 192 will have later night services offered on the weekend.
MINOR CHANGES:
Route 103 will now operate counterclockwise around Lakewood Wall, resulting in minor changes.
The Passport and Routes 51, 71, 72, 101, 102, 104, and 151 will all experience minor schedule changes in time arrivals.
