Editor:
Anyone who tries to drive or walk down Nebraska Street either in the morning or in the after-school hours will find that there is a need for traffic control interventions in the area around New Roads School. The mixture of industrial/commercial uses with 300-plus students is a recipe for traffic tragedy. Why is the city waiting until a student is badly hurt or killed before a crosswalk is installed?
I invite the city traffic engineer to get in the New Roads pickup line at 3 p.m. on a Wednesday to see how dangerous the situation can be. The line is also dangerous at 7:50 a.m. when the city's trash trucks block the street, and students who are trying to avoid being late for class make a run for it.
A crosswalk is an inexpensive way to raise the awareness of drivers, channel student foot traffic, and avoid tragedy. The city of Santa Monica should install crosswalks on Nebraska Street immediately.
Abby Arnold
Santa Monica
