Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP / Getty Images
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday will consider moving forward a list of recommendations aimed at combating street racing and intersection takeovers.
If the recommendations are approved, the council will direct the Department of Transportation and the Los Angeles Police Department to create a pilot program to address citywide street racing and takeovers at the top five intersections in each LAPD Bureau:
-- Central Bureau identified Grand Avenue and 4th Street, Grand Avenue and 2nd Street, Grand Avenue and 3rd Street, N. Meyers Street and Kearney Street, and Figueroa Avenue and 2nd Street;
-- South Bureau identified Crenshaw Boulevard & Florence Avenue, Manchester Boulevard and San Pedro Street, Hoover Avenue and Century Boulevard, Western Avenue and Century Boulevard, and Normandie Avenue and Gage Avenue;
-- Valley Bureau identified Balboa Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard, Bledsoe Street and Bradley Avenue, Balboa Boulevard and San Fernando Mission Boulevard, Glenoaks Boulevard and Polk Street; and Yamell Street and Foothill Boulevard; and
-- West Bureau identified Lincoln Boulevard and Manchester Avenue, Western Avenue and Washington Boulevard, Mulholland Drive and Corda Drive, Fairfax Avenue and Pico Boulevard, and Pacific Coast Highway and Temescal Canyon.
There would be two main efforts taken to address the issue -- engineering and enforcement measures.
LADOT determined four available options to enhance intersections, such as implementing raised hardened centerlines, Bott's Dots or raised pavement markers, rumble strips and the installation of gutters at intersections. However, the department noted raised hardened centerlines may be the best approach as the other options may negatively impact other vehicles, as well as bicyclists and motorcycles.
According to a report from the city administrative officer, the total cost to implement these measures would be roughly $80,000 -- LADOT would need to determine installation plans. The report notes the cost of the initial work could be covered in the current fiscal year.
On the enforcement side, LAPD would request funding for the purchase and installation of cameras on the intersections. The total cost for this approach has not been determined, but the department noted it would incur sworn overtime costs at about $80,000 for enforcement efforts.
In recent years, the cities of Compton, Paramount and Oakland adopted some of these measures to address street racing and intersection takeovers, according to LAPD. Similarly, Portland, Georgia, St. Louis and Detroit have also taken or are considering these measures as well.
Both departments would be instructed to provide an analysis of the pilot program and how effective it is in addressing street racing and takeovers. LAPD would be tasked with a follow up report, identifying 50 locations throughout the city that have continuous issues.
LADOT would also then provide information for possible funding for the use of cameras at these 50 locations.
The recommendations stem from a motion introduced in 2022 by Council members Monica Rodriguez, John Lee, Bob Blumenfield and Kevin de Leon.