Perilous Foothill Crosswalk May Get Lights

The crosswalk at Glenwood Ave. and Foothill Blvd. has been the site of screeching cars, near-misses and more than a few accidents. The Crescenta Valley Town Council and local law enforcement have begun efforts to turn the site into a lighted crosswalk.

There are currently bright yellow signs on the north and south side of the crosswalk, but residents have complained that those are ineffective, said councilmember Robbyn Battles.

The Department of Public Works is conducting a study to determine whether a lighted crosswalk is needed. A field review gathering traffic and speed counts has been conducted, and the data is currently being analyzed, said Anish Saraiya, a DPW official. The results will be available in a couple of weeks.

Battles described standing on the corner with DPW and witnessing three children almost get hit by vehicles in 35 minutes.

“The problem is, the driver can’t see because of the slope of Foothill Blvd., especially on the south side,” said Battles. “When [one car] does stop, the other traffic is not stopping.”

An employee of the , a business on the corner of Glenwood Ave. and Foothill Blvd., also describes the crosswalk as dangerous.

“People speed by, not thinking,” said Shannon Realivasquez, manager of the Flower Mart. Realivasquez said it’s common for drivers to stop for a pedestrian at first, but then continue driving before the pedestrian has exited the crosswalk. She also said that screeching cars are a common occurrence.

“It’s worse in the rain,” said Realivasquez.

Capt. David Silversparre of the wrote a letter to DPW describing the close calls he’s witnessed at the intersection.

Concerned residents are encouraged to sign a petition at the next Town Council meeting or at the Crescenta Valley Flower Mart, 2900 Foothill Blvd. There are two petitions: one for children under 18 and one for adults over 18.

Battles said the petitions were started just in case DPW denies the request for a crosswalk. “We didn’t want to sit around and wait for a ‘no,’” said Battles.

Battles said that once 2,000 signatures are received, the petitions will be sent to Supervisor Michael Antonovich.