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[KevinKorell]

Here's a mini lesson on Long Beach, the operation of the Blue Line there, and what our plans are.

We will be there on Sunday, July 19th. Besides riding the Blue Line, plans are also to have lunch in the city and also take a bus ride from there to San Pedro in order to ride the heritage streetcar line along the waterfront. The bus ride is approximately 26 minutes in each direction, and each trip should cost 90 cents if the web information I've seen is up to date. The bus is #142, operated by Los Angeles Dept. of Transportation (LADOT). This is a separate entity from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro). LADOT does not accept Metro's transfers or DayPasses.

The Blue Line has two tracks over its entire route between Los Angeles and Long Beach, running right-handed over the majority of the route. It enters Long Beach and runs in the median of Long Beach Blvd. Just before it reaches 8th Street, the tracks cross one another, and for half a block trains are still in the median but running left-handed. At 8th Street the southbound track continues on its own in the Long Beach Blvd. median. The northbound track comes eastbound on 8th Street and then turns northbound on LB Blvd. The Blue Line operates on a huge one-way clockwise loop around the downtown portion of Long Beach. The southbound track has stations at 5th Street and 1st Street on its own. After the 1st Street station, the track turns westbound onto First Street. This portion of First Street is open only to transit vehicles and is known as the Long Beach Transit Mall. The Blue Line track splits into two tracks that will straddle an island platform at the Long Beach Transit Mall station, the line's official terminus. The light rail station is between Pine Avenue and Pacific Avenue.

After the Transit Mall station, the two tracks join as one and turn northbound into the median of Pacific Avenue, which it follows for 7 blocks. An intermediate station called Pacific is located at Pacific Ave. and 4th Street. The northbound track then turns eastbound on 8th Street to return to Long Beach Blvd.

It is not possible to ride the Blue Line loop in a continuous circle. You would have to change across the platform at the Anaheim Street station, the next station north of where the tracks cross and split.

The plan as of now is to have lunch near the 5th Street station. Note in this photo the retail places to the right of the tracks. That's CityPlace, whose restaurants I have listed here. After lunch we reboard the Blue Line and ride around to the Transit Mall.

Here is a small map of the Transit Mall. The dominant carrier there is Long Beach Transit, which we won't be using. The key above the map indicates that the LADOT #142 bus stop is at Location A, which is 2-3 blocks east of the Blue Line platform. In the photo referenced above, the bus stop is located 2 blocks behind the photographer's back. In fact, the First Street station is most likely closer to the bus stop than the Transit Mall station. Those with mobility issues should keep that in mind to perhaps shorten their walks. Here's a photo of the First Street station. The shot was taken from LB Blvd. & Broadway. At the other end of this platform is where the track makes the turn onto the Transit Mall, and it is at that exact corner where the LADOT #142 bus stop is.

I'm not sure where the bus will leave us in Long Beach upon our return from San Pedro, but if it's at the same Location A, then again there is the option of boarding the Blue Line at First Street or the Transit Mall. Since trains lay over at the latter, it may be easier to get the next northbound train out from there.

If anyone totally despises buses, is physically unable to ride, or just doesn't wish to make the trip to San Pedro for the heritage streetcar, you can remain in Long Beach while we go to San Pedro and back. There is plenty to do along that city's waterfront.