More traffic lights? Fewer crosswalks? Better lighting? Given West Hollywood’s reputation as a very walkable city, it’s no surprise that pedestrian safety is a big issue which got bigger with a series of accidents last year.
Now the city is soliciting feedback from residents and local businesses about its proposed plans to improve crosswalk safety and traffic flow on Santa Monica Boulevard between San Vicente and La Cienega. They include installing new traffic signals and pedestrian signals at current uncontrolled crosswalks at West Knoll Drive, Westmount Drive, Hancock Avenue and Palm Avenue.
You can offer your opinions and ask your questions at one of two public “pop-up” events on Tuesday. One, at Santa Monica Boulevard and Westmount Drive will be open from 9 a.m. to noon. Another will be open from 3 to 6 p.m. at Santa Monica Boulevard and Hancock Avenue.
Also, the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce invites local businesses whose traffic is affected by the crosswalks to attend a meeting at 3 p.m. on Thursday at its offices at 8272 Santa Monica Blvd., east of Harper.
Failure to learn from other cities like New York
(what works there?)
are endless studies and analysis necessary to reinvent the wheel????
weho fail
.Whether your in a crosswalk or jay walking your not going to get hit if you wait for all the vehicles to stop before you step out in front of them. Flashing yellow lights, traffic lights like on Fairfax, whatever, don’t step out in front of vehicles until they come to a complete stop
Actually, Manny, your answer makes me see how helpful bridges would be to encouraging exercise and fitness and reducing the presence of trucks on our streets!
For those who want their voices heard, but can’t attend one of these events, try the new “Engage WeHo” survey just posted:
http://www.engageweho.org/topics/22608/proposed-crosswalk-and-traffic-flow-changes-on-santa-monica-boulevard
In Miami we have many mid block crossing signals , especially in school zones. Why more studies when the need is obvious.
What was the point of the popup? They asked me my opinion, I gave it, then they had me move on. Didn’t even write anything down.
OMG…enough about comparing NYC to LA. Or this or that block is this many feet and goes north or south. Who cares? You sound like city council. The only solution is to install one or two pedestrian lights and be done with this. The city can’t hold everyone’s hands when crossing the crosswalk. There is a certain amount of risk in living. Be smart, stay aware and use your judgement. Follow the law (no jaywalking) and odds are you’ll be ok.
@Steve…..A pedestrian bridge that is high enough for truck clearance would require a 40 foot long stairs with 50 plus steps, at least 4 feet wide on both sides…..or a zig zag stairs at least 8 feet wide and 25 feet in length on both sides. Of course not everybody is as capable of going up stairs as well as you Steve, so an elevator at both ends is required. In addition to the footprint of the stairs, an elevator would be at least a 6’x6′ wide tower and a minimium 4’x4′ landing separating the elevator path from the stairs… Read more »
BlueEyedBoy, I picked an average block on the map, which means that the stretch of road I described in Weho is longer than almost all of the NYC blocks. And your point regarding one-way streets in NYC is valid, but all you proved is that in a similar situation with two-way traffic, NYC did the same thing that Weho did, which is to add a crosswalk. But to bring it back, regardless of comparisons to other cities.1128 feet (1/5th of a mile) is too long a stretch in a heavily pedestrianized area to not have any additional legal crossing opportunities.… Read more »
We’re getting way off topic here, but I’ll go along. Flores St. you found one example in NYC, and there may well be more. I don’t recall being on 29th so I can’t dispute it. I was rarely in that part of Manhattan. I am familiar with the two crosswalks on 57th Street (and had forgotten about them), but 57th is unique in that it is a very rare street with two-way traffic, so it would be more dangerous to jaywalk there. I lived on 57th and Sutton Place. Almost everywhere else traffic is one-way, where it would be much… Read more »
No one is mentioning PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES! Let’s get the pedestrians out of harm’s way altogether so traffic can move at a better pace and drivers don’t feel like they’re in a video game. Adding more traffic lights will increase the already awful congestion, removing the crosswalks will increase jaywalking and increase accidents, and making the crosswalks more visible won’t help distracted drivers or distracted pedestrians.
Distance between La Cienega and Westbourne: ~1,228 ft
Distance of 29th Street between 8th and 7th Avenues: ~865 ft.
BlueEyedBoy, would you agree that if that particular stretch of road is 30% longer than what we would all agree are long avenue blocks in NYC where no one would go to the corner to cross if they had to go directly across the street, this one stretch of road therefore should have a pedestrian crosswalk? Maybe not two, fair enough, but at least one.