About two months ago Battles sat down with the school’s principal, Susan Hoge, and discussed the traffic issues. In February a child was hit in a crosswalk at La Crescenta and Orange avenues while walking to school. The 10-year-old wasn’t hurt, but it served as a warning sign, Battles said.
Council members and school district representatives toured the area with county officials to find the trouble spots along the school path.
The hedges were so high that it created a visibility problem at La Crescenta and Orange avenues, and officials determined that the stop line was so far back from the corner that drivers couldn’t see the kids.
There was also a crosswalk on the north side of La Crescenta that led to nowhere. Kids would cross into the street, Battles said.
There was also too much traffic congestion in the drop-off lane in front of the campus, she said.
County parks officials have green-lighted Battles’ plan to use Two Strike Park as an alternative drop-off and pick-up site, and state crews will be placing two no U-Turn signs near the school.
“Not only are they trying to take a proactive step, but taking the lead in the education process,” said Hank Paz, director of student resources for Glendale Unified School District.
Now Battles is setting her sights on Rosemont Middle School.
“When I went to school there a friend of mine was hit in the crosswalk on Rosemont Avenue,” she said. “He was thrown several feet and had two broken legs and cuts everywhere. It has always been a problem, but back then we had two middle schools and less traffic. It is worse now.”
Paz agreed that Rosemont would be a good target for increased traffic safety.
“There are areas with no sidewalks,” Paz said. “That is an accident waiting to happen.”
