Why We Can’t Have Nice Things: Drivers are Destroying Ktown Mini-Traffic Circle
Some Streetsblog readers are familiar with some of the sad history of the deadly intersection of 4th Street and New Hampshire Boulevard in L.A.’s Koreatown neighborhood.
Last year, after a driver killed a 9-year-old, and after volunteers painted guerilla crosswalks, the city of Los Angeles Transportation Department (LADOT) installed official crosswalks and a temporary traffic circle there.
The new circle wasn’t much, but appeared to somewhat calm car traffic.
LADOT is planning to install a long-delayed permanent circle there, with construction expected to get underway this year.
The battering of the temporary circle suggests it can’t come soon enough.
By early February, drivers had managed to loosen one of four speed bumps there. Another appeared damaged but remained affixed.
This week – still less than four months after installation – three of the plastic bumps are loose and falling apart. Several reflectors are missing. It resembles a pile of debris that someone mistakenly forgot to clean up.
Perhaps LADOT (or another entity that actually cares about pedestrians’ lives – like the Crosswalks Collective L.A.) could put something there that drivers might take seriously: large rocks, granite or concrete blocks, jersey barriers, Toronto barriers, or the like?
Hopefully LADOT will begin construction on the permanent circle soon.
Addendum 3/13 7 p.m.: Shortly after publication, LADOT responded to SBLA’s inquiry regarding the timeline for this site. DOT stated that they “will assess the damage of the quick build traffic circle and schedule repairs accordingly.” The DOT did not provide an anticipated timeline for permanent construction, but directed Streetsblog to inquire with the city’s Public Works Department Bureau of Engineering (BOE) for construction timing information.
Addendum 3/17: A BOE spokesperson responded to SBLA: no construction timeline information was available.
Addendum 3/19: As the department pledged, LADOT refreshed/repaired the quick-build circle.
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