Horse riders in Shadow Hills have been waiting since 2012 for a safe way to cross Sunland Boulevard at Johanna Avenue, and this week the Los Angeles City Council moved the long-stalled project forward again, approving more than $400,000 in additional funding that brings the total committed to $892,500. The crossing itself still hasn't been built.
The council action adds to money set aside years earlier for the equestrian crossing, according to ABC7 Los Angeles, which reported that the council had previously approved $455,500 in 2021 for an activatable horse traffic light meant to help riders and horses cross safely. Despite that earlier funding, the crossing was never installed. The intersection sits within Councilmember Monica Rodriguez's district, and per the outlet's reporting, Rodriguez said unexpected inflationary construction costs and additional public works requirements doubled the project's cost.
LADOT told the station the crossing has already been designed and is ready for installation, but that additional funding was required before work could begin. Rodriguez said she is now working with the department to include the project in an early 2027 package bid, though whether that bid is ultimately issued or awarded remains to be seen.
A Crossing Residents Flagged Fourteen Years Ago
The idea for a Sunland Boulevard equestrian crossing isn't new. City records show the intersection of Johanna Avenue and Sunland Boulevard was added to a Los Angeles list of recommended horse crossings back in 2012, after residents raised concerns in community feedback that the roadway was hazardous for riders and their horses, according to a Los Angeles City Clerk community-feedback document. Community feedback described missing signs, speeding and truck hazards along the stretch.
A subsequent LADOT report that same year recommended designating the intersection as an equestrian crossing and directing LADOT to use appropriate signs and supplementary traffic controls, such as signals, push-buttons, marked crosswalks or beacons, as LADOT deems necessary, per a Los Angeles City Clerk/LADOT report. California Vehicle Code Section 21805(a) gives local authorities the power to designate such intersections as bridle paths or equestrian crossings with appropriate signage, the report states.
Residents Describe Daily Danger on the Road
For residents who use the crossing regularly, the stakes are not abstract. Jacqy Gamble said residents need safe access across the streets, the station's report notes. Tina Eick said the crossing is extremely dangerous and that the delay reflects a multilayered bureaucracy problem. Alyson MacInnis said drivers behave recklessly through the area, and heavy traffic and speeding vehicles have made the crossing a persistent safety concern, per the same account.
Musheegh Muradyan said heavy trucks travel through the quiet neighborhood at 55 to 65 miles per hour, and warned that at the current pace, installation could take another 10 to 15 years. Vickie Sampson welcomed the additional project funding, saying she was delighted by the news, though she also said residents were surprised by how quickly the latest action followed years of inactivity.
An Equestrian Community Still Waiting
Shadow Hills has long been known for its horse-friendly character. An estimated 70% of residents in the area own horses, and more than 90% of local properties are equestrian-zoned, according to the Los Angeles Times. The 2012 city motion requested a report and plan on recommended horse crossings, and a subsequent LADOT report recommended intersections including Johanna Avenue and Sunland Boulevard.
Residents say crossing Sunland Boulevard at Johanna Avenue has been hazardous for decades, and horse owners are hopeful the newly funded crossing will finally be installed next year. Still, after watching earlier funding commitments pass without a completed project, residents remain cautious that this round of approvals will be any different.
