Sidewalk and Curb Ramp Program
Background
Sidewalks and curb ramps are one of the City's largest public assets, providing safe access to schools, parks, businesses, transit stops, and other community destinations. The Public Works Department maintains a pedestrian network of over 1,200 miles of sidewalks and 12,000 curb ramps throughout the public right-of-way.
Because infrastructure naturally deteriorates over time and accessibility improvements require significant planning and investment, the City uses several coordinated programs to address maintenance, repairs, and long-term replacement.
Understanding Sidewalk Programs
The City addresses sidewalk concerns through maintenance and Capital Improvement Projects under different programs. Understanding the difference between the types of work under each category helps explain why some locations receive maintenance repairs while others are reconstructed.
Maintenance focuses on preserving existing sidewalks in a safe and usable condition. Maintenance applies repairs to localized damage but do not involve full sidewalk reconstruction.
Common Maintenance Treatments
Concrete grinding to remove minor uneven sidewalk offsets
Asphalt ramps or patching provide a smooth transition by filling larger gaps or vertical offsets with asphalt concrete
These treatments improve overall safety and preserve the life of existing sidewalks.
- Capital Improvement Projects construct new or significantly improve existing infrastructure and incorporate accessibility improvements as part of the broader scope of work. By coordinating accessibility improvements with major infrastructure projects whenever possible, the City can make the most effective use of available funding.
Roadway improvement projects are typically guided by the City’s Pavement Management Plan to strategically advance pavement conditions. These and other public facilities projects are completed through the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) which may include:
- Sidewalk reconstruction
- New or upgraded curb ramps
- Other accessibility improvements required under current ADA standards
Our City is progressively becoming more accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities. These specific accessibility upgrades are guided by the City's 2019 ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, which evaluated the City’s network of sidewalks and curb ramps to identify accessibility barriers and establish long-term priorities for improvement. These projects are completed through the ADA Transition Program and Access Request Program.
| Program | Purpose | Typical Work |
| Sidewalk Maintenance | Addresses immediate sidewalk usability concerns submitted through Go Long Beach or calling (562) 570-2700 | Grinding, asphalt patching, localized repairs |
| Roadway Rehabilitation Projects | Replaced sidewalk during major street improvements, following the Pavement Management Plan | Roadway resurfacing, with sidewalk, curb ramps, and curb & gutter replacements |
| ADA Transition Program | Addresses accessibility barriers and replaces sidewalk, following the Transition Plan | Sidewalk reconstruction, curb ramps, accessibility improvements |
| Access Request Program | Addresses accessibility requests from people with mobility disabilities | Case-by-case accessibility improvements |
Why is the City making accessibility improvements throughout Long Beach?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that ensures people with disabilities have equal access to public services, programs, and facilities. As a public agency, the City of Long Beach is committed to improving accessibility throughout the public right-of-way.
As part of a 2017 Settlement Agreement, the City is implementing a long-term program to improve accessibility over a 30-year period. The agreement requires the City to:
- Install approximately 4,500 curb ramps where none currently exist.
- Repair or replace 16,000 non-compliant curb ramps, or invest $50 million toward those improvements.
- Invest $125 million to repair or replace other non-compliant pedestrian facilities, including sidewalks.
These improvements are being completed over time in coordination with roadway rehabilitation projects, ADA accessibility improvements through the ARP, and available funding to improve accessibility.
Report a Sidewalk Concern
The easiest way to report a sidewalk concern is through the Go Long Beach app or online service request portal.
Residents can report:
- Uneven sidewalks
- Missing curb ramps
- Damaged sidewalks
- Obstructions
- Other maintenance concerns
Residents may also contact the Public Works support team at (562) 570-2700 (option 2, followed by option 3) or to report a concern.
Program Funding
Sidewalk maintenance and accessibility improvements are funded through a combination of local, state, and federal funding sources, including annual maintenance budgets, Capital Improvement Projects, grants, Measure A, Community Development Block Grant funding, and other transportation funding opportunities.
Because available funding is significantly less than identified needs, projects are implemented over many years and coordinated with other City infrastructure improvements whenever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Submit a request through the Go Long Beach app or online service portal or call 562.570.2700 (option 2).
The 2019 ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan is the City's long-range strategy for identifying accessibility barriers and prioritizing improvements throughout the public right-of-way. The Plan accounted for sidewalk conditions, accessibility needs, pedestrian activity, and proximity to community destinations such as schools, parks, transit stops, libraries, hospitals, and government facilities.
In forming the Transition Plan, thorough public outreach approach was developed by consultants in conjunction with City staff, to ensure that members of the community living with disabilities would have an opportunity to be informed and provide feedback.
Sidewalk replacement projects are prioritized using accessibility criteria established in the ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan.
Factors include:
- Public safety
- Severity of the barrier
- Accessibility needs
- Proximity to schools, parks, libraries, transit stops, hospitals, government buildings, and other community destinations
- Coordination with projects under the Capital Improvement Program
- Available funding
Many residents wonder why damaged sidewalks are sometimes repaired instead of completely replaced.
The ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan identified approximately $631 million in sidewalk and curb ramp improvements needed citywide.
Because these needs far exceed available funding, the City prioritizes improvements that provide the greatest public safety and accessibility benefits while maintaining existing sidewalks through routine repairs.
Many sidewalks heaving concerns can be safely corrected through concrete grinding and other repairs without replacing the entire sidewalk panel. The ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan found that only about 6% of measured sidewalk lifts exceeded one inch, meaning may trip hazards can be addressed through maintenance while permanent reconstruction is planned.
Public Works follows a standard review process:
- Request Received – A work order is created after a request is received through Go Long Beach or calling (562) 570-2700.
- Inspection – Staff inspect the location and determine the condition of the sidewalk.
- Maintenance Response – Crews schedule maintenance, such as concrete grinding or asphalt patching, to improve pedestrian safety.
Long-Term Planning – The location remains deferred for replacement until it may be incorporated into a future roadway rehabilitation or ADA improvement project, or until location-specific funding becomes available for the improvement.
The Access Request Program provides a pathway for individuals with mobility disabilities to request accessibility improvements that may qualify for ADA funding. Learn more here.
To submit an ARP request:
Citywide Accessibility Coordinator
Office of the City Manager
ADA@longbeach.gov
(562) 570-6257
Major reconstruction and roadway rehabilitation projects under the CIP and guided by the Complete Streets model often include sidewalk and curb ramp improvements.
Regular work under the Preventative Street Maintenance Program generally does not include sidewalk replacement.
Sidewalks naturally deteriorate over time. Common causes include tree root growth, soil movement, weather, water intrusion, vehicle loading, and seismic activity.
The City installs curb ramps in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide an accessible path of travel throughout the public right-of-way to locations of public interests. Placement and configuration of curb ramps are determined based on connections to existing sidewalks, access to public facilities and high-use destinations, pedestrian and traffic conditions, and site constraints such as utilities, drainage facilities, bus pads, and driveways.
Long Beach Municipal Code Section 10.22.060 prohibits parking within 20 feet of the approach to an intersection and 10 feet beyond the intersection. These parking restrictions help maintain clear sight lines for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists, improve visibility at intersections, and enhance overall traffic safety.
Driveways are not considered pedestrian access points under the ADA because they do not meet curb ramp design requirements and can create potential conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles entering or exiting private property.
Sidewalk Maintenance
Go Long Beach Service Request
Public Works Call Center
(562) 570-2700 - Option 2
ADA Accessibility
Citywide Accessibility Coordinator
ADA@longbeach.gov
(562) 570-6257
More Information
Useful Links
Contact Public Works
411 W. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: (562) 570-5000
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