By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Palisadians raised concerns over potentially losing a crosswalk at the intersection of Chautauqua Boulevard and Corona del Mar/Vance Street after the Los Angeles Department of Transportation placed a public notice stating “this marked crosswalk at this location is proposed to be removed.”
“According to CD11 (Lisa Cahill, Palisades-Brentwood Deputy), LADOT received a complaint from a local resident in February regarding safety concerns about this crosswalk,” representatives from Pacific Palisades Community Council shared in a statement. “Once a safety issue of a particular crosswalk is brought to the attention of LADOT, then the agency must investigate and take action, and if no feasible solution is found, LADOT must remove the crosswalk.”
Colin Sweeney, director of public information with LADOT, explained that this posting is part of the standard procedure when studying various alternatives, and that comments will be taken into consideration in determining a course of action.
“We will continue working with the surrounding community to ensure safety at this intersection,” Sweeney said, adding that depending on community input, there is a “very low likelihood of removing the crosswalk as LADOT examines various options for improving safety at the intersection.”
One Vance Street resident expressed his concerns over the proposed removal of the crosswalk, citing that it is a dangerous idea as people will continue to cross at the intersection even if it were removed.
“The reality of the neighborhood is that the other place to cross is far too far away,” Paul Solomon explained in an email sent to Durrah Wagner, constituent advocate with Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office, “and many people want to make their way through the neighborhoods for a variety of reasons.”
Solomon wrote about the restaurants situated on West Channel Road that are accessed by Huntington residents on foot by way of the crosswalk and the many people who walk their dogs, jog or stroll the area—some visiting architecturally significant homes.
“This move will hurt someone because Chautauqua will become more of a freeway if you remove the crosswalk,” Solomon shared, “yet people will still cross, so someone will be injured and maybe killed if this decision moves ahead.”
He added that neighbors have been asking for help to support this intersection for years and not to remove it.
“I’ve lived for three decades on Vance Street and the crosswalk has changed little over the years,” resident Alison Bryan Crowell added, acknowledging that minor improvements have been made. “The increased real-time speeds of cars hurtling down lower Chautauqua have made crossing deadly.”
Cahill reported to PPCC that CD11 is working with LADOT to consider solutions to increase safety at the site, including flashing warning lights, curb extensions or speed tables.
“If one of those is feasible,” the statement continued, “then the city will move forward with that plan and the crosswalk can stay. Ms. Cahill advises that CD11 will continue to work with LADOT to urge the agency to find a solution that will allow the crosswalk to stay.”
Representatives from CD11, LADOT and Caltrans will update the community council on the status of these improvements at the March 26 PPCC board meeting.
Community members can submit comments on the proposal to LADOT at 310-575-8138 or ladot.westerndistrict@lacity.org. The deadline is Friday, April 3.
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