By Ruth SOWBY

On Tuesday, Oct. 18 Glendale City Council members put on hold most of their agenda to jump to the action item of the day – bicycle facility options for the La Crescenta Avenue Rehabilitation Project.

Caltrans estimates that the cost per freeway accident is $185,000. Granted, the cost would be much less for accidents on La Crescenta Avenue, but the cost could still be substantial. The goals for the La Crescenta Avenue rehabilitation project are: 1) Allow for bicycle facilities alternatives; 2) Provide more traffic and pedestrian safety; 3) Change the paving in front of Fremont Elementary School (off La Crescenta Avenue) to “reflective paving” to reduce the effects of heat; 4) Develop an outreach plan to the public informing it of any changes to come.

Three options were considered by councilmembers:

Alternative 1: On La Crescenta Avenue, have one lane in each direction with separate, dedicated bike lanes on each side. A turn lane would be in the center. (The phrase in use is “multi-modal transportation.”) 

Alternative 2: Keep the two lanes in each direction.

Alternative 3: Use alternative 1 as a temporary test case. 

Close to three-dozen in-person speakers and callers weighed in with their varying points of view. Of note was Ben, an 11-year-old Fremont Elementary School student who spoke in front of the Council.  He was in favor of Alternative 1 (one lane each way and separate bike lanes). 

“We play tag on our way home from school. We playfully push each other,” said Ben. In other words, if a child wound up in the street after being pushed, s/he would be in a bike lane close to the sidewalk rather than a lane of traffic.   

Continued Ben, “There should be a separate space for bikes on the road.”  Ben also suggested that speeding on two lanes contributed to global warming.    

A yea or nay on Alternative 1 was put to Councilmembers. There were four votes in favor of Alternate 1 and one vote against. (According to a Public Works representative, funding from Measure R will not be affected.)   

Mayor Ardy Kassakhian stated, “I support Alternative 1 – cautiously.”

Councilmember Paula Devine thanked the members of the public who spoke in front of the Council and those who called in.