Metro Blue Line's Loop Through Downtown to Close for 30 Days

The Metro Blue Line’s loop through downtown Long Beach will close for 30 days beginning tomorrow as part of a $1.2 billion overhaul of the county’s oldest light-rail line.

Blue Line trains heading to Long Beach will stop at the Anaheim Street Station on Long Beach Boulevard. Passengers will be able to jump on a free shuttle bus that will continue to the four stops in the downtown loop -- the Downtown Long Beach, Pacific Street, First Street and Fifth Street stations.

The construction is expected to continue until Oct. 19.

Metro officials said they will be improving canopies at some stations, replacing some track and track switches, adding overhead power lines and installing new lighting.

“The 30-day closure of the Blue Line service to downtown Long Beach will tax the patience of commuters, motorists, shoppers and business owners,” said County Supervisor Don Knabe, a member of the Metro Board of Directors. “We have spent months working with Long Beach officials and our counterparts at Long Beach Transit and we are confident that the results will more than justify any inconvenience.”

Metro officials said they plan to conduct more intense construction activity during non-peak hours to limit traffic disruption in the downtown area, but motorists could encounter sporadic lane closures.

The overall Blue Line improvement project includes $739 million to purchase new light rail cars, plus $130 million to repair and upgrade 52 existing rail cars. Metro has already spent $82 million to replace 20 traction power stations.

The Blue Line, which connects downtown Long Beach with downtown Los Angeles, has about 90,000 boardings each day and is considered one of the busiest light rail lines in the country, according to Metro. The line is the county’s oldest, opening in 1990.

--City News Service

PHOTO Patch file photo.