As the school year launches, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has unveiled the city's extensive safety improvements near educational institutions. In a swift response to prevent traffic-related tragedies, more than 450 School Slow Zones and over 250 speed humps have been installed, Mayor Bass announced. The safety upgrades, which include “quick build” improvements at intersections and the recruitment of additional crossing guards, aim to protect students commuting to and from school.
Joined by the City Council and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the initiative represents a citywide effort to make streets safer for pedestrians, particularly the young and vulnerable. "In partnership with the City Council and Los Angeles Unified School District, we took action to make streets safer near schools and we will continue to do more to promote student safety," Mayor Bass told the press. Evident by the completion of intersection projects near over 40 schools and the reduced speed limits in surrounding areas, the concern for children’s safety is paramount.
Councilwoman Heather Hutt, chair of the Transportation Committee, praised the initiative for its forward-thinking approach. "Implementing new slow zones and speed bumps is crucial for ensuring children can get to and from school safely," Hutt acclaimed. With these implementations, there's an expectation for the roads to be more forgiving for those on foot during the busy school time rush.
Concern over student safety has been a pressing issue for LAUSD as well, with Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho acknowledging the city’s proactive stance. “Los Angeles Unified students and families have become victims of senseless vehicular traffic incidents while walking to and from school,” Carvalho shared, expressing gratitude towards Mayor Bass and the City Council for addressing these concerns with determined urgency.
LADOT General Manager Laura Rubio-Cornejo cited the safety treatments and the significant hiring of crossing guards as a milestone for the city, noting "the most significant investment our City has ever made to prevent dangerous driving behavior near schools." She thanked the Mayor, the City Council, and LAUSD for their collaborative commitment to student safety in the remarks as detailed in the official press release.
Alongside the infrastructure improvements, as summer winds down, Los Angeles has also engaged in measures to curb violence through increased programming for youth and families in the Summer Night Lights program. These educational and recreational opportunities at school-adjacent locations are pivotal components of the Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) Comprehensive Strategy, aiming not just for safety in transit, but a wider-reaching societal security.
