By Los Angeles County Politics
All roads lead to Long Beach.
The City of Long Beach yesterday celebrated the official groundbreaking of the Studebaker Road Transformation Project, that will reimagine just over five miles of roadway from Second Street to Carson Street, and spanning three Council Districts.
Yesterday’s ceremony also brought out a bevy of elected officials including U.S. Rep. and former Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood, Bellflower) current Mayor Rex Richardson, and Long Beach City Councilmembers Kristina Duggan, Daryl Supernaw, and Megan Kerr.
“The Studebaker Road Transformation Project is a once-in-a-generation investment in our neighborhoods and our future,” said Richardson. “This project has been years in the making, and today’s groundbreaking represents the culmination of hard work and persistence by our community and partners. By improving safety, accessibility, and mobility, we are creating a corridor that better serves our residents, students, and visitors, while connecting people to schools, parks, businesses, and community spaces. This project will transform how people move through our city and help build a more resilient future.”
The project will deliver a wide range of upgrades, including resurfaced roadways, new and more efficient traffic signals, rapid flashing beacons near schools and redesigned intersections for enhanced safety. Accessibility and mobility will be significantly improved through ADA-compliant sidewalks and ramps, as well as protected bike lanes and shared-use paths.
Public transit upgrades will include new shaded bus shelters, boarding islands and shortened crossing distances for easier and safer access. Sustainability measures are also central to the project; more than 100 new trees and 2,000 shrubs will be planted, new landscaped medians added and a stormwater biofiltration feature designed to improve water quality will be installed.
In addition, the project will bring new fiber-optic lines that will close a significant gap in the City’s current fiber loop, expanding high-speed connectivity for community facilities the City’s Citywide Fiber Network Infrastructure Initiative.
As part of the project, the current standard bike lane along Loynes Drive from Studebaker Road to Pacific Coast Highway will be upgraded with protective barriers and delineators, creating a much safer and more comfortable rider experience.
“Studebaker Road is the gateway to a large part of our city connecting neighborhoods, schools, parks and businesses across East Long Beach. It is exciting to see this project breaking ground,” said Duggan, representing the Third Council District. “When complete, we’ll have a smooth road that is safer for everyone.”
“The improvements to Studebaker Road will not only improve traffic safety, but also enhance access to Cal State Long Beach, El Dorado Park and many of our community’s most popular destinations,” said Supernaw, representing the Fourth Council District.. “This project reflects years of planning, and I’m proud to see it moving forward.”
“This project is about more than infrastructure—it’s about investing in the safety, health, and quality of life of our neighborhoods,” said Kerr, representing the Fifth Council District.. “By prioritizing connectivity and sustainability, we are building a corridor that our community and future generations will be proud of.”
The multi-year effort is expected to cost $64.4 million and is funded by several state and federal sources, including a $1 million Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed grant earmark by Garcia.
“The Studebaker Road Transformation Project is going to make our roads safer, communities healthier and neighbors more connected. I am proud to see the hard work the City of Long Beach is implementing on their longest corridor transformation project to date,” said Garcia. “I will continue to advocate for more federal resources so that our cities can reimagine infrastructure, improve mobility and enhance quality of life for the community.”
Surveying and other preconstruction activities on the project have started. Active construction is expected to begin later this fall, and completion is expected in fall 2027.
