TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare an amendment to the Long Beach Municipal Code, Subsection 10.38.090.C to extend the hours of closing California Avenue between Bixby Road and Armando Drive to 7:00 p.m. (District 8)
DISCUSSION
California Vehicle Code Section 21102 permits local authorities to close to vehicular traffic a portion of a street that crosses or divides any school ground when the legislative body finds such closing necessary for the protection of persons attending the school.
To discourage traffic cut-through and speeding, which endangers pedestrian safety in the vicinity of Longfellow Elementary School, the segment of California Avenue between Bixby Road and Armando Drive has been closed to traffic between 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday for many years (Attachment 1). The affected street segment is highlighted on the attached vicinity map (Attachment 2).
The local community and the Long Beach Unified School District have expressed interest in an extension of the current closure period to 7:00 PM to protect students and staff engaged in after school activities, by deterring cut-through traffic during the afternoon/evening peak commute hours (Attachment 3).
The City Traffic Engineer has determined that the requested time extension will enhance school safety and reduce cut-through traffic for residents of California Avenue, and recommends approval of the proposed change, which will become effective upon the posting of appropriate signs, as required by the Vehicle Code.
The Fire Department has also reviewed this matter and concurs with the proposed time extension of the closure. Upon approval by the City Council, it is recommended that the City Attorney amend the Long Beach Municipal Code Subsection 10.38.090 (C) to read:
"California Avenue, between Bixby Road and Armando Drive, is closed to vehicular traffic Monday through Friday, between the hours of eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) P.M."
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