22 freeway will connect to 7th street this summer

Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) has completed the final design phase of the West County Connector Project. This project is designed to link car-pool lanes on the I-405 with those on the Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22) and San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605).

Phase I of the project is from Valley View Street to just east of Seal Beach Blvd and is expected to begin this summer. Phase II of the project, which begins at Seal Beach Blvd and will include the full closure of the 7th Street Connector bridge into Long Beach is scheduled to begin in the Fall.

The Parking and Transportation Services Department is working closely with OCTA to ensure all information is available for the Campus and will be monitoring traffic flow with OCTA on the affected freeways and neighboring streets once construction begins.

For complete Project information you can call the Parking and Transportation Services office at 985-4146, visit the CSULB Maps, Parking and Traffic Information page or go directly to the West County Connectors page on the OCTA website.

Information obtained from CSULB's Parking and Transportations website.


Image from octa.net

Driving to get to class

The most traditional way students get to class is by driving.

The lack of parking spaces available has encouraged students to find other modes of transportation, but some stick to what they know best.

Searching for a parking space can be an easy method when ingenuity is involved.

Junior Tatiana Garcia, fashion merchandising major, will follow people and even tell others, "I'll give you a ride to your car for your parking spot," she said.

Most of the time she finds a spot in five minutes at the back of the parking structure in parking lot 3.

Tatiana is forced to park at the lower end of campus while her classes are on the upper campus in the Language Arts buildings.

"From the structure to class, it takes me ten to 15 minutes," she said.

Other methods Tatiana uses include carpooling and receiving text messages from friends that alert her of traffic and areas with available parking.

Tatiana, like many others, drives because of the "convenience and flexibility" driving provides.

Toyota Camry image from netcarshow.com