Politics
Long Beach Measure LB-3 Transit Bond: Projected Rollout Dates for Local Fare and Route Changes
If approved, the measure would direct $280 million in bond proceeds to bus and rail upgrades with first service expansions scheduled for 2028.
How we reported this
Long Beach Measure LB-3, a proposed general obligation bond on the November 2026 ballot, would authorize the city to issue up to $280 million for transit infrastructure and housing-adjacent station improvements. The measure directly affects the 470,000 residents who rely on Long Beach Transit routes and the Blue Line light rail for daily commutes to the Port of Long Beach and downtown employment centers.
City budget documents released in May 2026 show the bond proceeds would be spent on 35 new electric buses, signal upgrades at 12 intersections, and two new park-and-ride facilities. These items were identified after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority updated its 2025 long-range plan to shift more regional funding away from local capital projects.
Timeline for Local Impacts
Under the city’s published expenditure schedule, design and environmental review would begin in the first quarter of 2027. Construction contracts for the new bus fleet and signal work are listed for award in mid-2027, with the first expanded routes operating by the second quarter of 2028. Fare reductions of 25 cents per ride on local routes are projected to start once the new buses enter service and operating costs decline.
Residents in the 90813 and 90806 zip codes would see the earliest changes because those neighborhoods contain the highest number of current Blue Line riders and the proposed park-and-ride sites at Anaheim Street and Pacific Coast Highway. Households without vehicles would gain an estimated 12 additional daily trips on routes serving the port and VA hospital.
Budget Figures and Next Steps
The city’s 2026-27 capital improvement plan allocates $4.2 million in matching funds for preliminary engineering, drawn from existing Measure R sales-tax revenue. Full repayment of the $280 million bond would occur over 30 years at an estimated annual cost of $14 million, funded by a portion of the city’s existing property-tax increment.
Ballots will be mailed to registered voters beginning 29 days before Election Day. If the measure receives the required two-thirds majority, the City Council must adopt an implementation ordinance within 90 days, after which the first construction bids are released according to the published schedule.