The City of West Hollywood has completed installation of four new traffic signals at pedestrian crosswalks on Santa Monica Boulevard, located between Robertson Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard.
The City’s number-one priority is public safety, and these traffic signals will enhance the safety of pedestrians and drivers. The new signals went into operation on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 and Thursday, November 16, 2017. The signalized crosswalks are located at the following intersections:
- Palm Avenue;
- Hancock Avenue;
- Westmount Drive; and
- West Knoll Drive.
The Santa Monica Boulevard crosswalk signalization project includes the installation of new curbs, gutters, sidewalks, curb ramps, electrical connections, pavement, traffic signage, traffic striping pavement markings, and modified concrete median islands.
The constant movement of dense vehicular traffic and pedestrians in close proximity is an ongoing challenge in the City of West Hollywood and in cities across the nation.
The City is continuously exploring a mix of measures to address pedestrian safety and manage traffic congestion. The crosswalk signalization project is part of the City’s Engineering plan for pedestrian safety. This part of a three-part plan — Engineering, Enforcement, and Education — which was approved by the West Hollywood City Council in 2014.
Additional engineering enhancements implemented during the past three years also include: 1) In-street pedestrian crosswalk signage, which are bright neon yellow vertical signs posted at lane lines to warn drivers that it is “State Law to Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk,” and 2) Reflective raised pavement markers installed at edges of crosswalks, which help to alert motorists of crosswalk locations.
On a regular basis, deputies from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station’s Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) team and Community Impact Team (CIT) conducting a crosswalk operations at various locations throughout the City of West Hollywood in an effort to improve pedestrian safety as part of the City’s Enforcement plan for pedestrian safety.
In October 2014, the City of West Hollywood, as part of its Education plan for pedestrian safety, launched a comprehensive crosswalk safety campaign aimed at encouraging drivers and pedestrians to pay more attention to crosswalks and to devote less time to digital distractions, such as text messages, emails, and social media.
For additional information about the City of West Hollywood’s efforts to ensure pedestrian safety and to brush-up on safety tips for walkers, please visit www.weho.org/pedestriansafety.
