Public Transportation

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 Aside from owning personal vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, etc., people find other ways to get from point A to point B in Long Beach.

Depending on where you are going, there are several different options: Greyhounds, Blue Line metros, taxis, etc.

All facilities have contact phone numbers and web pages providing information. For example, people who decide to use public transit as an option should visit the Long Beach Transit web page to get overall useful information such as pass pricing, bus routes, security details, special services, etc. 

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CSULB students, such as Nayeli Carrillo, also have an option to take the The Orange County Transportation Authority System directly to school. Carrillo, a junior at CSULB, does not own a car but uses this public facility to get to campus from her home on the border of Fullerton in Anaheim.


"Public transportation is helpful in helping you learn how to pay attention to streets and depending less on maps", says Carrillo. "I take the OC Transportation Authority System to school. It's smooth but since I live in Anaheim hitting the border of Fullerton it takes about an hour and a half to get to school."

Walkway construction on campus

CSULB's recent construction project on campus entails building a walkway between lot 17 and 18 at the school. The entire construction project began at $1.2 million, funded by the parking and transportation services on campus. Construction projects tend to range and vary in price, so the beginning price may exceed that amount once completed.  

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Mark Rudometkin, director of Parking and Transportation on the CSULB campus, stated that his team’s goal is to have the project done by January 23, 2012, for the start of spring semester. 

Before the renovations began, students walking from lot 20 and lot 16 did not have a designated pathway to use when walking around campus. Due to the fact that students did not have a specifically labeled pathway, it caused possible safety issues for both pedestrians and drivers. 

Construction will include a total reconstruction of lot 18, bright lights along the new walkway that are safer, benches, trees and a parking permit dispenser in lot 18.

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The renovations, however, have been causing some extra traffic congestion and road blocks, causing students and faculty to temporarily reroute some of their driving paths on campus. According to Rudometkin, the people most frustrated were individuals that regularly use the nursing building but they have been patient throughout the process.


Although momentarily frustrating, the patience and wait should be well worth it- resulting in a more convenient and safer establishment. The parking and transportation service's goals are to complete the entire project by deadline to avoid prolonged inconveniences. 


“Lot 18 was in terrible shape, physically.  It had many deep potholes, cracked asphalt everywhere and needed new striping,” said Rudometkin. “With the need to completely overhaul Lot 18 we also looked at the crosswalk on Merriam Way from Lot 16 and how it sent all pedestrians right down the middle of Lot 17.  What we came up with was the shift of the intersection to the south to line up with the sidewalk coming out of Lot 16 in front of the dorms as well as taking out all of the ivy between Lots 17 and 18 and making that a pedestrian and bicycle path to tie the whole length of ground together from Earl Warren Drive to Brotman Hall.” 


The project should result in a more attractive parking lot, walkway, and a safer designated area for pedestrians to walk.

Parking Drama

Rising congestion not only comes with frustration but also with plenty of parking issues. 

Fitting into a parking spot can be a challenge at times but on the CSULB campus, students are finding themselves squeezing into spots as well as attempting to squeeze out. Although students are able to fit their car into a parking spot that is clearly too small, they seem to find comfort in knowing that they at least have a place to leave their car even it if means inconveniencing other students, or even themselves. Regardless of what the reason may be, students are on a school campus and primarily are concerned to making it to class on time!

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An article in the daily 49er covered the issues in an segment called "The forgotten parking issue" and covered this topic. Students are finding frustration in situations where it is not an easy possibility to enter your vehicle. In addition to, the $123 dollars that goes to student parking permit expenses does not collaborate well when people either can't find parking, or do but face the risk of getting bumped by someone else's car door.


It is safe to say that these parking dilemmas go hand in hand with the increase of students driving cars to school this semester and congestion all together. 


In any case, poor parking can affect the person leaving their car crookedly-place but also the person parked in the next spot over because they are out of room and can't open their car door.