After being nearly a year-and-a-half in the works, the traffic signal in front of All Nations Church in Lake View Terrace has been activated, improving safety for local families and the church’s congregants.
Members of the Korean American church, joined by Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, held a small ceremony on Dec. 11 to celebrate the installation of the signal right in front of the entrance to All Nations Church on Foothill Boulevard. It’s the only traffic signal between Wheatland Avenue and Wentworth Street – a distance of approximately 1.5 miles.
The signal also comes with a newly added crosswalk. As there is a strong equestrian community in Lake View Terrace, two sets of crosswalk buttons were installed on each side of the road: one for pedestrians and another high enough for horseback riders to easily reach.
The project, which cost an estimated $1.2 million, was fundraised by church members – who number more than 2,000. Construction of the signal began in April and was completed on Dec. 10, but the church and the local community had been aiming to have a traffic signal installed for years over concerns of cars speeding.
John Oh, a representative for the church in regards to the traffic light, said that drivers treat that stretch of road like it’s a freeway, which makes it hazardous for church members leaving after Sunday service.
“[Speeding cars] was a substantial concern, not only for church members, but for the local community. There’s no pedestrian crosswalk for a pretty long stretch of the road,” Oh said. “If you’re coming from [Angeles National Golf Club] driving towards our church, it’s downhill, so I’ve personally seen cars doing over 70 miles per hour, maybe even faster than that.”
Although he does not know definitively if it was a result of speeding, Oh recalled that a church member had died in an accident near the intersection on Wheatland Avenue, saying it was a tragedy that could’ve been prevented.
It’s only been a few weeks since the traffic signal was activated, but Oh said that it has already given many church members peace of mind. Cars now slow down when they approach, and church members have an easier time driving in and out of the driveway.
While the church fundraised the funds for construction, Oh emphasized that this signal benefits the community as well, and that All Nations Church had a responsibility to provide a sense of safety for their neighbors.
“We want to further develop our lasting relationship with the neighborhood because although our church’s name is All Nations Church, it’s predominantly Korean Americans, and so we kind of stick out like a sore thumb,” Oh said. “We wanted to bring peace and harmony with our neighbors as well, and I think we do just that by sharing safety concerns with our neighbors.”