Intersection to Get New Traffic Light

Monday, August 31, 1998

Intersection to Get New Traffic Light

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.