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Dangerous crosswalk at Venice beach

506 views · Published 1 November 2017 · 23:05 · Indexed 23 October 2026

Channel: TONY VERA TVNEWS · 2017 · People & Blogs

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by la times A pedestrian dies in a Venice crosswalk, where 'red tape' has delayed safety upgrade Acrosswalk in Venice where a pedestrian died in recent days has long been scheduled for safety improvements, upgrades that officials said have been delayed by “red tape.”

The intersection of Pacific and Sunset avenues — near the heart of Venice Beach’s heavily trafficked boardwalk — is the only designated pedestrian crossing for several blocks. There are bright white lines in the roadway, and a reflective “pedestrian crossing” paddle placed on the sidewalk.

But according to a 2014 Department of Transportation report, those measures were deemed insufficient.

“Due to a speed limit of 30 miles per hour, traffic volumes on Pacific Avenue of almost 23,000 vehicles per day, and at least four lanes to cross without a median, a marked crosswalk alone at this uncontrolled intersection no longer provides the desired level of safety,” the report said. But according to a 2014 Department of Transportation report, those measures were deemed insufficient.

“Due to a speed limit of 30 miles per hour, traffic volumes on Pacific Avenue of almost 23,000 vehicles per day, and at least four lanes to cross without a median, a marked crosswalk alone at this uncontrolled intersection no longer provides the desired level of safety,” the report said.
David Graham-Caso, Deputy Chief of Staff for Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office, shared the following statement.
On Wednesday morning, a motorist driving an automobile struck and killed Damon Shear – a pedestrian attempting to cross the street at Pacific and Sunset Avenues in Venice. It is a horrible, tragic death — one of hundreds that occur every year as a result of a sickening crisis of traffic fatalities plaguing Los Angeles.By all accounts, Damon was crossing the street legally, with a reasonable expectation of safety. A motorist stopped his or her vehicle at the crosswalk, as is required by law. A second motorist, apparently impatient with the driver obeying the law, sped around and passed the stopped vehicle, hitting the victim at a high rate of speed. Despite initial reports, the victim did not “walk into traffic.” Apparently, a motorist broke the law and hit the victim. The case is being referred to the office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

The intersection has been the scene of serious collisions previously, and in recent years the City of Los Angeles has increased LAPD presence there to target unsafe driving behaviors around this intersection, and LADOT has installed “paddles” in the crosswalk to alert drivers to the presence of pedestrians crossing, and has updated markings approaching the crosswalk so they are more visible.

Additionally, to help pedestrians cross more safely, the City applied for and Caltrans awarded federal money to add flashing beacons and ADA-compliant access ramps at the intersection — but Caltrans has yet to actually give the money to LADOT. (The money is part of a master grant for several dozen intersections citywide, many with extensive federal requirements, including environmental clearances and additional levels of review, and Caltrans will not award the money until it has reviewed, approved and cleared all 36 projects.)

The red tape involved with federal and state grants is one of the many reasons Councilmember Bonin has fought so aggressively to fully fund the Los Angeles “Vision Zero” program — which seeks to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries due to traffic collisions by providing local, easily accessible funds that can be quickly spent on safety improvements such as crosswalks with flashing beacons, scramble crosswalks, pedestrian-activated signals, curb bulb-outs, median island safe harbors, Safe Routes to School, and much more. More than 250 people die of traffic collisions in Los Angeles every year — one of the highest fatality rates for a major urban area in the United States. Councilmember Bonin secured $27 million for Vision Zero in this year’s budget, and is pushing LADOT to use the funds to expedite approved projects and front-fund projects that have been awarded but not yet received outside funding.

October 25, 2017

A car hit and killed a pedestrian on a crosswalk on Pacific Avenue at Paloma Court in Venice. 40-year-old Damon Shear of Los Angeles, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neighbor Alexander Poe told Yo! Venice the crosswalk is notoriously unsafe. “The driver was going fast enough that the pedestrian flew 30 feet. The body is still there. His flip-flops are still in the crosswalk,” said Poe.

Pacific Division Watch Commander Scotty Stevens told Yo! Venice one a car had stopped to let the man cross and “the car behind changed lanes to avoid the stopped car” hitting the man as he crossed the street. Stevens said the man was killed on impact and “the driver stayed at the scene.”

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