Students, parents and community members will have a safer option for crossing a busy intersection near Colfax Charter Elementary School in Valley Village after the planned installation of a new crosswalk beacon.
Congresswoman Luz Rivas and Los Angeles City Councilman Adrin Nazarian recently announced that a High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) beacon will be placed at the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Huston Street, which is located next to the elementary school and currently has no crosswalk.
“I’m here … [to announce] I secured federal funding for a new pedestrian crossing that will improve safety for our community, for children and their families when they’re trying to get to school,” said Rivas, who represents the East San Fernando Valley. The pedestrian safety project, launched in partnership with Nazarian, will cost $250,000.
“This is part of $15 million in total [funding] that I secured in my first year as your Congress member … for projects that will improve the 29th district,” added Rivas.
The planned crosswalk – which is expected to be completed within a year in collaboration with the LA Department of Transportation (LADOT) – will have yellow signage coupled with the HAWK beacon, which is a pedestrian-activated traffic signal. It remains off until it’s activated, and then it initiates flashing lights to stop traffic.
“Since [taking] office 14 months ago, I’ve been invited by the parents of Colfax Elementary School to observe the traffic flow [and] speed,” said Nazarian. “Our schools were built at a time where there wasn’t the [current] population and [infrastructure] demands. … It’s critical that we keep up with the changing times and make the … investments necessary to expand safely.”
Nazarian thanked Eddie Gorton, principal of Colfax Charter, for educating him about the school community’s safety needs, and commended Rivas for “listening to the constituents.” He said the crosswalk beacon will benefit not only Colfax Charter and area residents, but also students and parents of North Hollywood High School and a nearby middle school, which are both located within walking distance.
“Along Colfax Avenue, you have a corridor of a great deal of activity of parents trying to make sure that they’re safely getting their kids to their respective schools,” said Nazarian. “These funds are going to go a very long way in making sure that we implement those security measures needed to help keep everyone safe.”