Janine Marnien
LA CRESCENTA -- A CHP officer will be stationed on Ramsdell Avenue
just north of Foothill Boulevard issuing citations to commuters illegally
driving on the shoulder of the road, officials said.
The decision is a response to requests by residents and Crescenta
Valley Town Council members for help in ensuring pedestrian safety until
a sidewalk is installed in 2003.
Concerns about drivers using the dirt shoulder as an additional lane
were first raised by Crescenta Valley High School freshman Crystal
Polischeck. After what she described astoo many close calls with cars on
the shoulder while walking to school, she led a successful campaign to
have a sidewalk installed.
Other options to protect pedestrians were considered as interim
solutions, but were found to be inadequate, officials said.
"Cones give a false sense of security," Sussy Nemer, a representative
of Supervisor Mike Antonovich said. "A cone doesn't really stop a car."
Also considered were cement guard rails and adding a painted sidewalk.
A survey done by the county's Traffic and Lighting Division determined
that proper installation of the rails would cause too much congestion on
Ramsdell Avenue.
Additionally, a painted crosswalk allowing pedestrians to cross over
to the sidewalk on the east side of Ramsdell Avenue would also cause a
false sense of security, CHP Officer Vince Bell said.
The CHP officers will patrol the area at undisclosed times and dates.
