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Committee approves Phase 1 safety improvements around Hollingworth Elementary; some work requires LA County approval
Summary
The Traffic Committee approved Phase 1 sign, striping and crosswalk upgrades around Hollingworth Elementary and Friendship Park and asked staff to coordinate with LA County for work on the west side of Centus Avenue; staff will also study street lighting and potential speed‑hump feasibility as Phase 2.
The West Covina Traffic Committee on Sept. 17 approved Phase 1 traffic‑safety improvements on segments adjacent to Hollingworth Elementary School after a TransTech Engineers review requested by the school principal and residents.
TransTech separated the review into two segments: Centus Avenue between Level Glen Drive and Hollingworth Street (west side of the school) and Hollingworth Street between Centus and Fern Tower Avenue (south side). For Centus, TransTech reported an ADT of about 4,091 vehicles on the review day and an 85th‑percentile speed of about 40 mph in areas where posted regular speeds are 30–35 mph and where school speed signs of 15 and 25 mph were present. TransTech told the committee that state code prevents posting a 15 mph school speed where the main posted speed is 35 mph or higher (consultant referenced California Vehicle Code guidance) and recommended replacing faded 25 mph school signs, installing 8‑foot white side striping to visually narrow lanes, refreshing stop and stop‑ahead markings, installing ladder crosswalks and replacing faded school‑warning signs.
For the Hollingworth Street segment, TransTech reported an ADT of about 1,034 vehicles and an 85th‑percentile speed around 28 mph on the review day. Pedestrian counts showed student crossings concentrated where a crossing guard is posted at the northeast corner of the Centus/Hollingworth intersection; mid‑block crossings at the school’s west gate were limited. TransTech recommended side striping, replacing faded 15 mph school signs and school‑zone ahead signs, and installing an additional school zone sign near the west gate. The consultant noted some recommended improvements on the west side of Centus Avenue are within LA County jurisdiction and would require county approval or an encroachment permit.
Committee members discussed additional measures including speed humps (which have design prerequisites and are not feasible in some curving or sloped sections) and night‑time lighting. Staff said speed humps are expensive and not appropriate across the entire corridor; the committee agreed to approve Phase 1 signage and striping and to ask staff to return with a Phase 2 lighting and speed‑hump feasibility analysis. Maintenance staff offered to paint county crosswalks in the near term if county partners do not act promptly; county cooperation was described as routine and an encroachment permit would typically be required.
The committee approved Phase 1 measures and separately approved Phase 2 (segment‑by‑segment) studies for lighting and longer‑term fixes; both votes were 4‑0.
