Assemblyman Paul Krekorian: Let’s Make Our Speeding Streets “Safe Streets”
Last week, I received an email from the office of Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-43) who introduced legislation, A.B. 776, that would change the very laws that are requiring the speed limit raises throughout the Valley as a preclude to limit raises throughout the city. After a back and forth with his office, the Assemblyman himself emailed me a statement which can be read below and a fact sheet that can be read after the jump. I'll let Krekorian speak for himself, although the emphasis added to parts of the statement are mine.
The legislation will be heard by the Assembly Transportation Committee Hearing on April 20.
I share the frustration felt by so many Valley residents who know that our current laws to address speeding are inadequate.
Recent news reports have addressed this issue but failed to address a key component of what I am doing on the state level to try and fix what has been a pervasive problem on our streets.
On Feb. 26, I introduced legislation that will increase pedestrian safety by giving local governments an important tool to control speeding. Currently cities are required by state law to evaluate street speeds and adjust the limits if they want police to be able to use radar guns. If the study of a street finds that 85% of drivers are speeding, the city must raise the limit. The problem is, the law doesn't consider the public safety of pedestrians or those who live on or near city streets.
My Safe Streets Bill will allow local governments, through a public process, to consider pedestrian safety when reviewing local speed limits, not just the rising speed of passing motorists. Essentially, this measure would provide local governments with a means of increasing pedestrian and community safety by limiting increases in speed limits on local streets.
If passed, the Safe Streets Bill would allow local entities to retain existing speed limits on their streets - instead of the state mandating a change every seven years - after public hearings show that a higher speed limit would not improve the flow of traffic, nor promote a safe environment for the neighborhood or pedestrians.
We are an ever-changing populous in which our communities are growing faster each day; it’s time we had legislation to allow local governments the power to keep our streets, our communities and our children safe from excessive speeding. The Safe Streets Bill will help deliver peace of mind that drivers, pedestrians and parents deserve on our streets.
Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) represents the cities of Burbank and Glendale, and the Los Angeles communities of Atwater Village, Los Feliz, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, Valley Village and Van Nuys.
