LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Save Our Crosswalk

In February, I wrote Seleta Reynolds, the general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), a letter requesting that the crosswalk located at Chautauqua and Corona Del Mar/Vance Street be evaluated for safety.

I suggested several improvements that could make this crosswalk safer for both pedestrians and motorists. For example, installing pedestrian-activated flashing yellow lights on both the north and south approaches and/or installing yellow strobe lights in the pavement at the crosswalk warning motorists that a pedestrian is in the roadway.

Rather than making the crosswalk at Chautauqua and Corona Del Mar safer by installing flashing lights to alert motorists of a pedestrian’s presence, LADOT plans to remove the crosswalk entirely. Here is their reply:

“After some internal discussions, we have decided to remove the existing marked pedestrian crosswalk on Chautauqua Blvd at Corona Del Mar/Vance Street. We will post ‘Public Notices’ on both sides of the crosswalk with our office contact information and will collect comments for 30 days prior to removal of the crosswalk as per our Manual of Policies and Procedures Guidelines. The plan is as follows:

1. Removal of the crosswalk. Installation of “No Ped Crossing” signs at this location.

2. LADOT Survey Section will conduct a Pedestrian Survey at this location prior to removal of the crosswalk.

3. If there are a significant number of pedestrians using this crosswalk, we’ll work with our Management to install the crosswalk back with the appropriate traffic control devices.

4. If there are not enough pedestrian usage of this crosswalk, then the removal of the crosswalk will become permanent.

Feel free to submit your written comments to ladot.westerndistrict@lacity.org.”

Needless to say, this would impact two Palisades communities—Rustic Canyon and the Huntington Palisades. If you are walker who loves walking throughout the Palisades, join me to prevent this from happing. Do so by using the crosswalk as much as possible in the 30 days after the public notice has been posted and by voicing your displeasure to LADOT.

Mark Leap
Rustic Canyon