The City Council next week will discuss how to improve safety on Long Beach\u2019s streets \u2013 from improving response times to traffic safety and calming requests, to enforcing its ordinance that bans street races and sideshows.<\/p>\n
Councilmembers will look at ways to improve how the Public Works Department tackles traffic safety improvements during their Tuesday, March 3, meeting. The department and the traffic engineering team have consistently faced delays when responding to traffic safety and calming requests from residents and council offices, according to the staff report.<\/p>\n
While staff have logged and reviewed these requests, the number of fully implemented improvements remains limited, and the time between request submission and completion often exceeds community expectations, particularly for safety-related concerns, city officials said.<\/p>\n
Out of 220 traffic calming requests received since 2023, 180 locations were evaluated, but only 17 locations were ultimately prioritized for traffic calming improvements, according to a city memo<\/a> released on Dec. 30.<\/p>\n Although evaluations are occurring, relatively few requests result in near-term safety interventions, officials said. This has contributed to growing frustration among residents and has led to an increasing number of constituents reaching out directly to council offices to follow up on long-pending traffic safety requests.<\/p>\n In 2025, Long Beach recorded 53 fatal traffic collisions, one of the highest totals in more than a decade, according to the staff report, with pedestrians representing a disproportionate share of fatalities.<\/p>\n \u201cPublic Works must improve its ability to deliver timely safety improvements for pedestrian safety and traffic conditions. Delays in traffic engineering responses prolong risk for pedestrians, bicyclists and other vulnerable roadway users, and undermine efforts to encourage walking, biking and micromobility,\u201d the staff report says. \u201cWithout more timely and consistent implementation of traffic safety interventions, the city will not be able to meet its Vision Zero goals.\u201d<\/p>\n