Intersection to Get New Traffic Light

Published: Monday, August 31, 1998

Monday, August 31, 1998

TRANSPORTATION: Officials say signal will facilitate cars; pedestrians object

By Lawrence Ferchaw

Daily Bruin Staff

Drivers at UCLA will see a little more red today.

They'll also be seeing green and yellow at the intersection of Westwood Boulevard and Strathmore, with the addition of a new traffic signal.

Three years after expanding the intersection, the traffic signal - required to ensure safety - has been installed. Service is expected to begin today on the signal, which replaces a four-way stop sign at the intersection.

The addition of the signal, which cost $320,000, is expected to improve the flow of traffic, according to Stephen Rand, manager of traffic enforcement and adjudication at UCLA.

"When the whole turnaround was redesigned, the size of that intersection required a signal for safety," Rand said.

While only aware of one accident at the intersection, Rand said he has seen many near-misses when cars would be halfway into the intersection and a pedestrian would begin to cross the street.

After crossing Strathmore, one student agreed with this assessment.

"It will facilitate traffic," said Teresa Cha, a fourth-year student graduating with a degree in psychology.

Another student disagreed, saying the signal is unnecessary.

"I'm not fond of it," said Paul Lettieri, a graduate student in electrical engineering. "I don't see the need for it." Lettieri's office in Engineering 4 overlooks the intersection, and he said he has never witnessed a problem.

Just as workers put the finishing touches on the signal, construction workers began to fence off the sidewalk on the west side of Westwood Boulevard to begin construction of the Westwood Plaza office building.

The 14-month project, which will cost $12.9 million, will provide space for the Ombuds office, the Career Center, Mail and Document Services and the Environmental Health and Safety office.

Because pedestrians cannot cross on the west side of Westwood Boulevard, Rand said he expects to allow a longer green light for cars turning left onto Strathmore.

Wednesday, Rand met with inspectors from the city and the construction company to test the signal before turning over control to the city.

Once operational, the signal - as well as the ones at Westwood and Stein Plaza, Westwood and Circle Drive South and the pedestrian crossing between the two - will become part of the city of Los Angeles' Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control system (ATSAC).

ATSAC allows traffic controllers to monitor the intersection and adjust the timing on it as necessary by computer.

"It relieves a burden from UCLA," said Vince Corazza, a transportation engineer with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. "If we have it online, we can lengthen the green time."

By connecting with the ATSAC system, UCLA's signals will also be synchronized with those near campus. This will be helpful after a basketball game is over, Rand said.

"When we let 12,000 people off campus, the lights will be in their favor for a longer period of time," Rand said.

Because of the synchronization, this improved traffic flow will continue through Westwood and onto Wilshire Boulevard, Rand added.

Previously, traffic officials would manually change the campus signals to flashing red lights or turn them off and use officers to direct traffic after events such as basketball games.

"I'm looking forward to reducing the number of traffic personnel we need," Rand said.

The four traffic signals are not the first ones to be turned over to the city for operation. The traffic signal at Strathmore and Circle Drive West is already under the control of ATSAC. The annual maintenance charge is $3,800 per year for each signal.

As a student who walks and never drives through the intersection, Lettieri said the signal will be a nuisance to him.

"As a pedestrian, I'm going to find it annoying to have to wait," Lettieri said.