For more than a decade, people have been talking about the future of San Pedro's waterfront: Should it be a place for industry, a place for people, or both? And what will this mean for San Pedro and the harbor community? Will a new waterfront make the area better for community members and visitors alike? And if so, how?

These are important questions and no one has all the answers. Dating back to 2004, the San Pedro Waterfront plan has been revised, revisited and refined. It has certainly been discussed, deliberated and debated. Many people like the proposed plan, but certainly not everyone.

In effort for everyone to understand key aspects of the proposed plan, here is a quick overview of its elements:

Project Goal: A 400-acre waterfront infrastructure and revitalization initiative designed to create a vibrant, world-class waterfront for the community of San Pedro, the City of Los Angeles and the people of California.

Key Aspects: While there are numerous aspects of the proposed plan, here are some key highlights.

• Link downtown San Pedro and the waterfront, substantially increasing public access - The San Pedro Waterfront will connect the downtown area to the waterfront through the creation of pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular access connected by a network of waterfront promenade, bike paths, coastal trail linkages and open space for public enjoyment and recreation.
• Enhance community and visitor-serving commercial opportunities along the waterfront - Elements of the proposed plan are designed to revitalize Ports O' Call and provide a stronger link to downtown San Pedro, helping to make these areas more vibrant and appealing destinations for both community members and visitors.
• Relocate or remove cargo handling operations from the waterfront - In an effort to provide public access to the waterfront, existing cargo handling and other industrial uses will be removed and/or relocated from the project area.
• Meet growing cruise industry demands - The proposed project will enable the Port to accommodate future cruise industry growth in the decades ahead by providing the berth and terminal space necessary to accommodate more simultaneous ship calls and larger ships.
• Improve transportation, parking and non-vehicular mobility - The proposed plan includes measure to improve vehicular access to the waterfront area and to accommodate future traffic growth. Non-vehicular mobility is also encouraged through extension of the Waterfront Red Car Line and the creation of public promenades, bikeways, water taxi stops, and Coastal Trail connections.
• Grow the Port in a sustainable manner - Protect and improve the environment through forward-thinking design and construction principals that will provide long-term "green" benefits.