Residents urge action after repeated safety concerns at busy Ojai crosswalk

Several residents urged the Ojai City Council and staff to address a hazardous pedestrian crossing near Creekside Village and Vaughn’s shopping area, saying afternoon traffic, sun glare and multiple commercial driveways create an unsafe condition for children and other pedestrians.

Nancy Prince said the intersection is a “danger zone” when school children leave campus, describing multiple vehicle movements, delivery trucks and trolleys in a short stretch of roadway. “It's just very dangerous,” Prince told the council, listing competing traffic flows and bright afternoon sun as contributing factors.

Resident Renee Roth said she previously raised the same intersection following a neighbor’s crash: “She was in a walker, she was crossing the crosswalk, she got hit by a car who didn't see her coming, because of the sunlight,” Roth said. She asked council and staff to consider additional pedestrian signals like those used in Santa Barbara — where a pedestrian-activated signal turns red for vehicles — or other engineering treatments.

Council/ staff response: Staff did not provide an immediate engineering plan during the meeting but directed the resident to follow up; a councilmember offered to meet on site to observe conditions at school dismissal time. The public works director maintains a list of near-term traffic and sidewalk projects and will evaluate potential short-term and longer-term remedies during follow-up.

What happens next: Staff will meet with the resident and public works to observe the intersection at peak times, then report back to council with engineering options and cost estimates.