WEST HOLLYWOOD—The city of West Hollywood is increasing its ‘Anti-Gridlock’ measures to prevent the blockage of traffic. The city’s Parking Services Division is renewing its endeavors to step-up anti-gridlock measures. According to a press release from the city of West Hollywood website, in February 2019, the city’s contracted Parking Enforcement personnel will start monitoring major intersections during commute hours and will issue citations to motorists that block intersections or crosswalk areas. The aim is to allevaite bottlenecks at intersections during rush-hour traffic and to boost pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
Under the Anti-Gridlock Act of 1987, the California Vehicle Code (CVC 22526(a)) forbids drivers from entering an intersection, even if the light is green, if there is not adequate space on the other side of the intersection or marked crosswalk to allow the vehicle to completely pass through without causing interference with through traffic and pedestrian crossing.
Motorists whose cars block crosswalks or are stopped in an intersection are subject to a citation of $118. While traffic laws and moving violations in West Hollywood are under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, anti-gridlock measures in West Hollywood are monitored and enforced by Parking Enforcement personnel, managed by the City’s Parking Services Division.
Renewed anti-gridlock enforcement is part of West Hollywood’s commitment to explore a combination of measures to address safety. In the past five years, West Hollywood has executed a variety of improvements as part of comprehensive plan with three unique areas to improve pedestrian safety: Engineering, Enforcement, and Education.
The city has added five new high-visibility striped crosswalks along Fountain Avenue, which feature small refuge islands in the center of the road to decrease the exposure of pedestrians crossing and increase driver awareness of pedestrians crossing. West Hollywood installed several new signalized pedestrian crosswalks along Santa Monica Boulevard and put in solar-powered radar speed indicator signs along major corridors in order to remind drivers to drive within the speed limit. Trailer-mounted Electronic Variable Message Signs have been placed at specific locations within the region to urge drivers to slow down and follow posted speed limits.
For more details about anti-gridlock enforcement, contact Coby Wagman, the City of West Hollywood’s Parking Operations Supervisor, at (323) 848-6514 or at cwagman@weho.org. For additional information about West Hollywood’s engineering efforts to improve safety, contact the City of West Hollywood’s Department of Public Works at (323) 848-6375. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, call TTY (323) 848-6496. For up-to-date news and events, follow the city of West Hollywood on social media @WeHoCity and sign up for news updates at www.weho.org/email.
