TRAFFIC FIXES HAHN UNVEILS IMPROVEMENTS TO PUT VALLEY ON EASIER STREET.Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Dodging traffic with a handful of children from Burbank Elementary School Burbank Elementary School can refer to:
James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He was the Deputy City Attorney (1975-1979), City Controller (1981-1985), City Attorney (1985-2001) and Mayor of Los Angeles, California on Wednesday announced a $1 million traffic congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. and safety program designed to make improvements at the city's 25 worst intersections. Hahn said the 25 intersections were deemed the worst based on city Department of Transportation studies that examined crashes, traffic volume and other factors. The $1 million, eight-month program is being funded through existing funds in the department. The 25 intersections were ordered by Hahn to be the first to be fixed. Ten of the 25 projects are located in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . ``We are doing this based on where the need is, and the Valley has a number of intersections with problems,'' Hahn said. Burbank Elementary is one of eight locations around the city getting ``smart crosswalks,'' where flashing lights Flashing Light is a rhythmic light in which the total duration of the light in each period is clearly shorter than the total duration of the darkness and in which the flashes of light are all of equal duration. warn motorists that someone is in an intersection. Hahn said it is part of an overall program that will include new traffic signals, more left-turn lanes and left-turn arrow projects over the next eight months. ``You can never do enough, but this is a start of a program I hope we can carry out every year to begin to improve intersections to make them safer and to ease congestion,'' Hahn said at a news conference held at the school on Burbank Boulevard between Whitsett Avenue and Laurel Canyon Boulevard Laurel Canyon Boulevard is a major street in the city of Los Angeles, California. It starts off at Polk Street in Sylmar in the northern San Fernando Valley near the junction of the San Diego (Interstate 405) and the Golden State Freeways (Interstate 5). . ``Here at Burbank Elementary School, almost 2,000 vehicles will pass along Burbank Boulevard during the hours school is in session. We have to do something to slow traffic down.'' Burbank Principal Sharon Greene said the fix proposed by Hahn is something she has been seeking for years to protect the year-round school's 670 students. ``I've been trying for five years to get something here,'' Greene said. ``We've been lucky that no student has been hurt, but the parents and the teachers are all concerned. What happens is there is such a great distance between stoplights that cars and trucks get up to 60 miles per hour and can't stop in time.'' The ``smart crosswalk'' triggers a light to warn motorists as soon as someone enters the intersection. The pedestrian walks on a step-on device similar to those in supermarkets that automatically open doors, said Francis Banerjee, city Department of Transportation director. Greene said she originally had hoped to get a traffic signal installed but is pleased with the smart crosswalk idea as well as being allowed to keep the crossing guard. ``We think the two, combined, will help ease fears greatly,'' Greene said. Even with the changes being made to improve crosswalk safety, Hahn urged pedestrians to continue to use care. ``Unfortunately, crosswalks don't guarantee safety,'' Hahn said. ``A lot of drivers don't notice pedestrians, and they have to be on guard. Paint does not stop cars.'' The traffic safety and congestion effort is part of an overall program Hahn said is being developed over the coming months. Among other things, he said the city is looking at a proposal that was raised during the mayoral campaign to have more one-way streets Noun 1. one-way street - unilateral interaction; "cooperation cannot be a one-way street" unilateralism - the doctrine that nations should conduct their foreign affairs individualistically without the advice or involvement of other nations 2. on major thoroughfares as well as stepped-up enforcement of parking restrictions. ``We want to make use of every bit of asphalt,'' Hahn said. ``If that means having no parking along some areas, that's what we'll have. It was the motorists who paid for the streets.'' At Chandler Boulevard and Agnes Avenue in North Hollywood, one of the 25 intersections cited by Hahn, the absence of traffic signals makes the intersection hazardous for motorists and pedestrians, said Lorena Martinez, a worker at the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Children and Family Services office nearby. ``Every time I come back from lunch and see another accident there, I just think, oh boy, not again,'' said Martinez. ``There's white lines there where people can cross, but they have to make sure nothing's coming before they start. If they're too slow, forget it.'' At another of the Valley's dangerous intersections - Canoga Avenue and Victory Boulevard Victory Boulevard is a major thoroughfare on Staten Island, measuring approximately 8.0 miles (12.87 km) and stretching from the west shore community of Travis to the upper east shore communities of St. George and Tompkinsville. - a brief green signal forces motorists who want to turn left to race through the intersection, said Jim Baker Jim Baker or James Baker, a relatively common name, encompasses a number of individuals, arranged in chronological order, by year of birth:
``About once a month I see a meat wagon and a firetruck pull up, and there's somebody stuck in the middle of the intersection,'' Baker said. ``The problem there is there's not enough time to turn left. Then you get three cars zipping through on a red light, and one of them gets hit.'' Staff Writer Holly Edwards contributed to this story. Plan for Valley's 10 Worst Intersections A. Canoga Avenue and Victory Boulevard, Canoga Park - Left turn arrows (southbound south·bound adj. Going toward the south. southbound Adjective going towards the south Adj. 1. , eastbound east·bound adj. Going toward the east. eastbound Adjective going towards the east Adj. 1. and westbound) B. Zelzah Avenue at Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills - Left-turn lane project C. Saticoy Street South and Whitsett Avenue, North Hollywood - Left-turn arrow (northbound north·bound adj. Going toward the north. northbound Adjective going towards the north Adj. 1. ) D. Lankershim Boulevard at Valerio Street, North Hollywood - ``Smart'' pedestrian warning project. E. Arvilla and San Fernando Road San Fernando Road is a major street in the city and county of Los Angeles. It starts off in Castaic as The Old Road, passing through Santa Clarita and the Newhall Pass, where upon its intersection with Sierra Highway near the junction of the Golden State (I-5) and the , Sun Valley - Left-turn arrows (northbound and southbound) F. Victory Boulevard and Woodman Avenue, Van Nuys - Left-turn arrows (eastbound and westbound) G. Coldwater Canyon and Victory Boulevard, North Hollywood, Valley Village - Left-turn arrows (eastbound and westbound) H. Burbank Avenue at St. Clair Avenue St. Clair Avenue is a major street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was laid out in the late eighteenth century by the British as a concession road (the Third Concession), 2 km (1.25 mi) north of Bloor Street and 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Queen Street (formerly Lot Street). St. , North Hollywood - ``Smart'' pedestrian warning project I. Chandler Boulevard at Agnes Street, North Hollywood - ``Smart'' pedestrian warning project J. Camarillo Street from Camarillo Place to Clybourn Avenue, Valley Village - Left-turn lane project. CAPTION(S): photo, box, map Photo: (color) no caption (Canoga Avenue and Victory Boulevard intersection) Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer Box/Map: Plan for Valley's 10 Worst Intersections (see text) |
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