After several hit-and-run accidents, including one on Sept. 12, 2012, that left a woman hospitalized, a traffic signal is set to be installed at the intersection of Reseda Boulevard and Dearborn Street.
Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander said a contractor is being selected to install the signal at the intersection.
According to the LAPD, 42 collisions involving pedestrians have been reported at the intersection in the past five years. Of those 42 collisions, 19 were hit-and-run incidents.
Within the past two years, there have been 10 misdemeanor hit-and-runs with minimal injury, two felony hit-and-runs and one felony DUI.
“The entire corridor of Reseda Boulevard, near CSUN has very heavy car, pedestrian and bicycle traffic,” Englander said. “So traffic safety has always been a serious concern for us, LAPD, CSUN students and faculty and the surrounding community.”
Students said they take extra precautions when crossing the street at the intersection.
“Sometimes it makes me nervous to cross the street,” said Nancy Caballero, 19, freshman marine biology major. “You have to wait until it’s red (at Nordhoff) and red (at Prairie) to cross.”
Englander, who represents the 12th District which includes Northridge, said the community has been concerned about the intersection for a while.
“Our office pushed to have a signal installed at this location because we have known for many years that it is dangerous, and we have known about every one of the pedestrian collisions,” Englander said.
Because the intersection is off campus, accidents that occur at this intersection are under the jurisdiction of the LAPD.
“LAPD is the primary agency for this intersection,” said Christina Villalobos, public information officer for CSUN’s Department of Police Services. “However, that’s not to say (the CSUN Police Department) hasn’t assisted them.”
CSUN police and LAPD came together to conduct a pedestrian safety sting operation in 2010. During the two-and-a-half hour sting, more than 100 citations were written to drivers who did not yield to pedestrians.
Englander said approval for a light at the intersection occurred about 2 years ago.
“We worked to identify and secure federal transportation safety funds to pay for the design and installation,” Englander said.
Modern traffic signals are estimated to cost between $150,000 and $300,000 depending on the type of traffic signal.
Bids are now in for the construction of a traffic signal at the intersection, Englander said. Once a contractor is selected, he expects the signal to be up and running within a couple months.
