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West Covina committee approves school-area safety upgrades near Valinda Elementary; cost estimate $103,000
Summary
The Traffic Committee approved recommendations including speed-feedback signs, refreshed school-zone pavement legends and crosswalk repainting at Belinda and Merced avenues near Valinda Elementary; staff estimated the work at about $103,000.
The City of West Covina Traffic Committee on Oct. 15 approved a package of safety improvements at the Belinda Avenue–Merced Avenue intersection adjacent to Valinda Elementary School, including speed-feedback signs, refreshed school signage and crosswalk repainting. The committee voted 3-0 to proceed with staff’s recommended measures.
TransTech presented the request, which originated from residents and the school crossing guard, who reported motorists failing to yield to pedestrians and drivers sometimes stopping in crosswalks while making right turns toward the school. Jenna Robbins said the corridor is classified as a minor arterial with a posted mainline speed of 40 mph and an observed 80th percentile speed of about 41 mph. Robbins reported one pedestrian collision with injury in 2023 at the Valinda–Merced intersection.
Recommended actions approved by the committee include installing one speed-feedback (“your speed”) sign in each direction in front of the school, installing or refreshing advanced school signage (neon green school signs), refreshing “school zone” and speed pavement legends, repainting the yellow crosswalks at each leg of the intersection, and adding signs to remind turning drivers to yield to pedestrians. Staff estimated the combined cost of the improvements at approximately $103,000; the estimate assumes thermoplastic or similarly durable markings.
Committee members observed that much of the proposed work is striping and signage (maintenance-related) while the new items (speed-feedback signs and an additional right-turn pedestrian-yield sign) would be considered capital additions and, if needed, could go to council for funding authorization. The motion to approve staff recommendations passed on a roll call: Neil Mehta, Robert Ortega and Mike Crissap voted yes.
Staff will schedule installation of signage and pavement marking refreshes and will report back on timing and final costs. The committee described the action as intended to improve pedestrian safety at a school crossing where caretakers, crossing guards and children frequently use the intersection.
