Council Approves Nearly $5 million for Crosswalk Improvements

By Elizabeth Schneider

Oct. 8 -- The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved spending $4.7 million to improve pedestrian crosswalks along Wilshire, Santa Monica and Ocean Park boulevards, despite the outspoken protest of two council candidates.

The project should increase neighborhood traffic safety as well as improve conditions in the Special Office District near the eastern end of the city, specifically on Broadway and 26th Street, according to the staff report.

"We're looking at some very major corridors," Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown said before the meeting. "We determined through a series of public workshops (that these intersections) are horribly unsafe to cross."

The best way to improve the crosswalks, McKeown said, is not just by adding paint but by making engineering improvements that may be expensive but are "long lasting."

Council challengers Pro Se and Chuck Allord opposed the project.

Pro Se provided video footage of the intersection of 4th Street and Wilshire Boulevard, where he said he and his neighbor were both hit by motorists within six weeks of one another.

"Why spend $4 million when the city can't even get the crosswalk lines painted?" Pro Se asked.

"This is a farce, a red herring," said Allord. The project, he added, has nothing to do with pedestrian safety.

He warned council members that "the fight is on," and that he would soon make city crosswalks an election issue.

The project will improve crosswalks at Whilshire Boulevard between Lincoln Boulevard and Franklin Street; Santa Monica Boulevard between 9th Street and Berkeley Street; Broadway between 10th Street and Centinela Avenue; Ocean Park Boulevard between Third Street and 30th Street, and Pearl Street at 17th Street.

Crosswalk enhancements will also take place along the length of 26th Street south of San Vicente Boulevard to Washington Street.

"These are places where we know that we need to make improvements," McKeown said.

Work is expected to begin at the end of this month and should be completed by May 2003. Construction along Wilshire Boulevard will be coordinated with the current streetlight project.

One of the first areas slated for construction will be at the corner of Berkley Street and Santa Monica Boulevard, where a new signal will be installed.

Most of the $4.7 price tag will be paid for by MTA and Caltrans grants, as well as the city's crosswalk improvement fund.