Blog: Why Traffic Safety Matters in Glendale

The most common concerns I hear involve traffic safety, speeding, and reckless driving in Glendale.  Unfortunately, our city has a poor record when it comes to collisions between cars and pedestrians. 

I take this issue very seriously.  We have a long way to go in solving our traffic safety problems, however, I want to share some of the important steps Glendale has taken to address this serious problem. 

At no cost to the city, the University of California, Berkeley – Institute of Transportation Studies (“ITS”) recently completed a Pedestrian Safety Assessment in the City of Glendale.  The primary objectives of the PSA were to find ways to improve pedestrian safety; improve walkability of our commercial areas, and to create welcoming environments for pedestrians.

ITS staff reviewed available traffic-related data (traffic volumes, accident records, etc.), conducted field checks, and met with city staff to identify and discuss current and proposed engineering practices.  Results and recommendations are summarized in the 2011 report City of Glendale Pedestrian Safety Assessment – Issues, Opportunities, and Enhancement Strategies.  We have begun to implement the PSA’s suggestions, and will continue to do so wherever and whenever appropriate.   

In addition, the city has retained the Cal Poly, Pomona Department of Civil Engineering to develop a systematic method to identify and reduce pedestrian-related collisions in the city.  The department’s faculty and graduate-level students are analyzing the city’s traffic collision data utilizing an analytical methodology developed through recent research efforts.

The study’s scope of services includes the identification of high-risk locations in the city; a diagnosis of road collision issues and problems; and the development of countermeasures.  The study is scheduled for completion this year, after which we will begin to evaluate and implement the study’s recommendations.

Staff has upgraded 13 traffic signals along Glenoaks Boulevard to enhance traffic safety and improve traffic flow.  In addition to replacing obsolete signal equipment, certain traffic-safety enhancements were included, such as installing or upgrading safety lighting and countdown pedestrian indications to improve pedestrian safety in crosswalks; providing protected left-turn phasing to improve vehicle safety and operational efficiency; and installing bicycle loop detectors to encourage bicycle use and enhance bicycle safety.

In January 2011, as part of an ongoing “Look to Live” public safety campaign, the “LOOK” marking was painted at the foot of the pedestrian crosswalks the Broadway-Glendale Avenue intersection, and presented in English, Armenian and Spanish.  “LOOK” markings will be added to other intersections when their striping is refurbished.

At the same time we started the Look to Live campaign, we also launched www.D2DGlendale.com, which deals with distracted driving.  This was developed by our Traffic Safety Committee, which is made of various City department heads, along representatives from GUSD and Glendale Community College. Not only has this been a fantastic resource for our schools, young drivers and parents here in Glendale, but various safety groups across the country have also utilized it.

We recently completed the installations of pedestrian-activated flashing yellow beacons on Brand Boulevard at Fairview Avenue, Broadway at Cedar Street, and on Louise Street between Harvard Street and Broadway.  The flashing beacons are expected to increase drivers’ awareness of the presence of pedestrians in the crosswalks.

Since 2004, a variety of traffic calming measures and devices have been implemented throughout the city, including speed humps and lumps, traffic circles, painted edge lines, flashing beacons, and speed message radar signs.  It is our responsibility to make sure these devices are in the most appropriate places, and to evaluate the efficacy of these measures.

The city’s Bikeway Master Plan (“BMP”) was adopted by the City Council in June of 2012.  A Bicycle Advisory Committee was created to provide input and assist in the development of the BMP Update.  Four well-attended community outreach meetings were held to receive public input in updating the BMP.  This plan will lead to bike lanes and “sharrows” (shared lane markings) on roads picked as preferable routes for cyclists. In addition, since 2011, over 100 new bike racks have been installed on Glenoaks Boulevard, Brand Boulevard, and Broadway.  The installation of bike racks will continue to occur on major streets throughout the city.

We are considering several roads to see if one could serve as a test case for a “road diet,” in which lanes are removed to provide bike lanes.  Staff will be undergoing community outreach in several neighborhoods to explain the project, and to judge community interest.  Road diets have been successfully implemented in Los Angeles, on La Tuna Canyon road and elsewhere, and in Burbank on Verdugo Avenue.

Glendale has received grants in the amount of $1,347,560 from the Caltrans’ Safe Routes to Schools (“SR2S”) Program to make safety-related improvements at several schools, including Balboa, Columbus, , R.D. White, Verdugo Woodlands, Wilson, Glenoaks, Edison, Lincoln, Horace Mann, John Marshall, and John Muir.  Construction is currently underway on several of these projects.  Just last week it was announced that we would be receiving a further $449,200 for Fiscal Year 2011/2012 and 2012/2013, to be used for Balboa, Verdugo Woodlands, R.D. White, and Dunsmore.

The city continues to fund all expenses associated with the annual , which occurs every October.  In addition, city staff worked with the GUSD in planning and promoting the event, which teaches pedestrian safety to students, encourages physical activity, and helps to curb vehicular crowding at our schools.  Many elected officials, including myself, participated in the event by walking with the students to their schools in organized “walking school buses.” This event continues to attract many students and parents.

The Glendale Police Department (GPD) continues to actively enforce and investigate all traffic related issues within our city borders.  At the same time they provide outreach and education to our partners at the Glendale Unified School District and to the public.  During this past year, our police department initiated several new programs, and conducted the following operations:

• The Traffic Bureau was integrated into the Area Command model, which assigns specific traffic officers to particular areas, and ensures geographic accountability based of crime analysis data. 

• The GPD Implemented a Traffic Safety Task Force to address traffic related issues.  It includes representatives from the Police Department, Traffic and Transportation, Public Works and Engineering, Glendale Unified School District and parent representatives.  This Task Force meets once a month to discuss strategies for improving both pedestrian and vehicle safety. 

• Our new DUI Team focuses on impaired driving.  Their efforts in the month of February 2012, alone accounted for 129 arrests, including 70 DUI’s.  We are also conducting surveillances of repeat offenders and serving arrest warrants for impaired driving offences. 

• Our new Commercial Enforcement Team targets unsafe large trucks operating within our city.

• During 2011 the Police Department issued 22,710 moving citations and 74,955 parking citations, which included 5,823 speed violations, 4,442 distracted driving violations and 478 pedestrian violations. The Traffic Bureau conducted seven saturation DUI operations and three DUI checkpoints. During 2012, The Traffic Bureau was awarded grant funding at the State and federal levels to conduct 12 DUI checkpoints and 12 saturation DUI operations.

• In 2011, The Traffic Bureau conducted 22 speed enforcement operations which resulted in 1502 citations being issued, 20 distracted driving enforcement operations which resulted in 1883 citations, and two motorcycle safety operations which resulted in 61 citations.

• Highlighting our commitment to outreach and education, the Traffic Bureau conducted 12 pedestrian education task force operations and handed out thousand of flyers promoting pedestrian safety.  We also conducted 4 multi-media assemblies discussing impaired driving and safety at our local high schools that impacted thousands of students.

While no single effort is going to solve all of Glendale’s traffic safety challenges, I hope this rundown of some of our programs illuminates our ongoing commitment to tackle this important issue. To be successful, we all have to participate.  We each need to evaluate how we drive, walk, and teach our children.  We need to continue to advocate for traffic calming and safety related infrastructure, while at the same time insuring that such measures are warranted and effective in any particular location.  I’m committed to this effort, and I hope you are too.  As always, I look forward to hearing your feedback and suggestions.