Jaywalking project fizzles

By Michael Picarella pic@theacorn.com

Opposition from property owners has forced the city of Calabasas to change its plan to install a raised crosswalk to deter jaywalking on Liberty Canyon Road in front of Chaparral Elementary School.

Instead, the city will enforce existing traffic laws at the location and add another crossing guard nearby to help keep kids safe.

City staff had requested a raised crosswalk approximately mid- block on Liberty Bell. A crossing guard had previously been placed there to keep pedestrians out of harm’s way.

"As of now, (the raised crosswalk) is dead in the water because the property owners adjacent to the project were opposing it," said Calabasas Assistant Transportation Planner Tom Gdala. "They got a petition signed by others that opposed it."

Nearby residents said when people crossed the street at the previously proposed crosswalk location, more traffic gridlock seemed to be the result.

"We’re asking parents to help us out and drop off their kids at either Magna Carta Road or at Bon Homme if they’re going eastbound on Liberty Bell," Gdala said. The school does have a loading area out front, he added.

The crossing guard had been used at the location for at least three years, according to Gdala. But when pedestrians began jaywalking, Gdala said the city wanted to prevent accidents and added a crossing guard to help people on foot cross the street safely.

Now, the city has a morning and afternoon crossing guard at Magna Carta and will place one on Bon Homme.