Following a fatal traffic collision near an elementary school on April 25, the Los Angeles City Council has put the gas on several measures to improve traffic safety including a much slower 15 miles per hour speed limit near 45 schools, and more speed humps at 50 schools.
The default speed limit in school zones was 25 mph, but on Friday, June 23, the City Council approved a new 15 mph limit on 98 street segments around 45 schools. The limit is in effect when students are walking to and from school and will be advertised with new street signs for a total cost of $153,750.
In addition, $2 million was recently allocated in the city’s fiscal year 2023-2024 budget for speed humps at the 50 highest need schools. The schools are all within a quarter mile of the city’s “high injury network” — the 6% of Los Angeles streets that cover 450 miles and account for 70% of all pedestrian deaths and serious injuries.
In the San Fernando Valley, the high injury network includes sections of the major thoroughfares of Sherman Way, Ventura Blvd., Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys Blvd., Vineland Ave., Vanowen St. and Laurel Canyon Blvd., among others.
The installation of the humps is still subject to final City Council approval.
“Our school communities have seen an increase in pedestrian accidents, and it is important to pursue all options to make routes to and from school as safe as possible,” Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said in a statement.
“Los Angeles Unified stands with the City of Los Angeles in supporting traffic safety enhancements,” Carvalho said, “and reduced speed limits within school zones is one of several important protective measures that should be considered alongside better signage, crossing guards, speed humps, flashing lights and steeper fines.”
The safety measures were winding their way through City Council approvals earlier this year, but were addressed with greater urgency after a mother was killed and her 6-year-old daughter injured while…
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