LB PTA Rep Voted As Part Of "Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee" To Support Cutting Twelve Crossing Guard Locations...And Stands By Her Vote

By May of 2004, the [Pedestrian Safety Advisory] Committee had already taken action to deem the following intersections as no longer hazardous, as defined by Section 10.68 of the Long Beach Municipal Code, and no longer required the assignment of an adult crossing guard:

Magnolia Avenue and Willow Street

Nieto Avenue and Vista Street

7th Street and Cerritos Avenue

Palo Verde Avenue and Willow Street

7th Street and Olive Avenue

...The Committee’s meetings in November of 2004 and February of 2005 were consumed with the task of reviewing the re-evaluation studies conducted by City staff. The Committee carefully considered each location taking into account the re-evaluation study results, accident rates, proposed or implemented traffic safety enhancements, and their personal knowledge of the area. As a result the Committee voted to retain adult crossing guards at six locations by continuing to deem the intersections as hazardous, while voting unanimously that seven locations were no longer hazardous, as defined by the Long Beach Municipal Code, and thus no longer required the assignment of an adult crossing guard.

The Committee respectfully requests that the City Manager forward the following twelve intersections, listed in order of Committee action, to the City Council for their consideration of no longer staffing the intersections with adult crossing guards beginning at the start of the 2005-2006 school year:

1. Magnolia Avenue & Willow Street - This signalized intersection is located two blocks northwest of Lafayette Elementary School. Current public school service area boundaries no longer require elementary school students to cross Willow Street at the intersection. A re-evaluation study conducted in the winter of 1999 revealed that the intersection did not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard. In reviewing the study, the Committee also concluded that the construction of Robinson Academy and the expansion of classroom facilities at Lafayette Elementary School resulted in a marked decrease in the number of students crossing at the intersection. On May 13, 1999, the Committee voted unanimously to have the adult crossing guard removed from the intersection. On February 13, 2003, the Committee voted unanimously to reaffirm its earlier vote; thereby, deeming the intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.

2. Nieto Avenue and Vista Street -‘This all-way stop intersection is located immediately adjacent to Rogers Middle School and Lowell Elementary School. A re-evaluation duration study conducted in the winter of 1999 revealed that the intersection did not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard. In reviewing the study, the committee also considered the fact that there is no entrance to Lowell Elementary School at the intersection and that students should be directed to continue to the intersection of Broadway and Nieto Avenue to cross where an adult crossing guard is stationed. On May 13, 1999, the Committee voted unanimously to have the adult crossing guard removed from the intersection. On February 13, 2003, the Committee voted unanimously to reaffirm its earlier vote; thereby, deeming the intersection no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.

3. 7th Street and Cerritos - This intersection is located one block north of Franklin Middle School. There are no public elementary schools within a quarter mile of the intersection. An adult crossing guard was initially deployed at the intersection to assist students in crossing 7 Street at an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing. A traffic signal was subsequently installed at the intersection in October of 1997 to improve circulation around Franklin Middle School and to enhance pedestrian safety for students and others crossing 7th Street. A re- evaluation study conducted in the winter of 2003 revealed that the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard. On February 13, 2003, the Committee voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.

4. Palo Verde Avenue and Willow Street - This signalized intersection is located at the southwest corner of Emerson Parkside Academy campus and in the general vicinity of a number of private schools. A re-evaluation study conducted in the Spring of 2003 discovered only light elementary school student crossings at the intersection both before and after school. The study ultimately revealed that the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard. On May 15, 2003, the Committee voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re- deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.

5. 7th Street and Olive Avenue - This intersection is located in the vicinity of St. Anthony Elementary School, a private school, and Stevenson Elementary School, a public school. An adult crossing guard was initially deployed at the intersection to assist students in crossing 7th Street at an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing. A traffic signal was subsequently installed at the intersection in June of 2000. A re-evaluation study conducted in the fall of 2003 revealed that the intersection no longer met the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard. On October 16, 2003, the Committee voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.

6. Bellflower Boulevard and Arbor Road - This signalized intersection is located on the boundary between the City of Long Beach and the City of Lakewood. There are a number of private schools located on Arbor Road west of the intersection; however, current public school service area boundaries no longer require elementary school students to cross Bellflower Boulevard in the vicinity of the intersection. A re-evaluation study conducted in the fall of 2004 revealed that the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard. On November 16, 2004, the Committee voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.

7. Lakewood Boulevard and 23rd Street - This signalized intersection is located two blocks from Buffum Elementary School. A re-evaluation study was conducted in the fall of 2004. During the study period not a single student was observed crossing Lakewood Boulevard during the hours the adult crossing guard was on duty. The reevaluation study ultimately revealed that the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard. On November 16, 2004, the Committee voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-depfoyment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.

8. 6th Street and Daisy Avenue - This signalized intersection is located at the southeast corner of the Edison Elementary School campus. A pedestrian bridge over 6th Street is provided west of the intersection for students approaching the school from the neighborhoods to the south. Recent school service boundary changes, resulting from the opening of Chavez Elementary School, no longer require students to cross 6th Street to attend their home school. A re-evaluation study conducted in the fall of 2004 revealed that the majority of the students crossing at the intersection do so in the western crosswalk, which is protected from vehicle conflicts by the one-way street and the traffic signal. The re-evaluation study ultimately revealed that the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard. In reviewing the study the Committee also concluded that the service boundary change would also result in a marked decrease in the number of students crossing at the intersection in subsequent school years. On November 16, 2004, the Committee voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard beginning with the 2005-2006 school year.

9. Orange Avenue and 60th Street - This uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalk is located immediately adjacent to Gethsemane Baptist Christian School. This intersection was re-evaluated twice, once in October of 2004 and again in December of 2004. On both occasions only light student crossings were observed at the intersection. The re-evaluation studies ultimately revealed that the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard. On February 10, 2005, the Committee voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re- deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.

10. Bellflower Boulevard and Spring Street - This signalized intersection has fully controlled left-turn movements and is located two blocks southeast of Carver Elementary School. During a re-evaluation study conducted in January of this year only three students were observed crossing at the intersection during the times the adult crossing guard was on duty. The re-evaluation study ultimately revealed that the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard. On February 10, 2005, the Committee voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.

11. Bellflower Boulevard and Wardlow Road - This signalized intersection is located west of Burcham Elementary School and Marshall Middle School and is in the vicinity of a number of private schools and daycare facilities. The traffic signal at the intersection has been recently renovated. During a re-evaluation study conducted in January of this year, less than twenty elementary school students were observed crossing at the intersection during the times the adult crossing guard was on duty. The re-evaluation study ultimately revealed that the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for t h e deployment of an adult crossing guard. On February 10, 2005, the Committee voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.

12. Studebaker Road and Keynote Street - This uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalk located two blocks southwest of Keller Elementary has been re- evaluated three times in five years. Only light pedestrian crossings were observed during all three evaluations. The pedestrian crossing has not met Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard for more than five years. On February 10, 2005, the Committee voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.

It is the Committee’s expectation that the effected schools and Councilmembers would be notified of the intention to no longer staff the above noted intersections with an adult crossing guard before the end of May so that parent notifications can occur before the end of this school year.