Most Angelenos know traffic is bad in the area, especially on freeways and main thoroughfares. Los Angeles County’s population growth – from less than 9.8 million in 2010 to 10.1 million in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau – is blamed for exacerbating the problem.

Several residents in the Eastern part of the county, including in the city of Alhambra, voiced their concerns recently not just about traffic issues, but also with pedestrian and bicycle safety  – in light of increases in pedestrian fatalities locally and nationally in recent years.

Pedestrian deaths in the United States increased 41 percent from 4,414 in 2008 to 6,227 in 2018, according to estimates from a 2019 report by the Governors Highway Safety Association.

To address this problem, Los Angeles County has come up with its “Vision Zero” action plan with a goal of zero traffic deaths on unincorporated county roadways by 2035. The plan includes making improvements such as curb extensions, higher visibility pedestrian crosswalks, flashing lights at crosswalks and better separated bike lanes.

Los Angeles County’s public works department also offers the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program to manage traffic concerns on certain residential streets. More information about the program is available at pw.lacounty.gov/traffic.

“Traffic laws are not as closely monitored as they should be. So many red lights [are] being run through [with] high schoolers nearly getting hit. Older people are actually being run over because of impatient drivers. The community is actively talking and reaching out through Facebook and other social media begging for change, but I haven’t seen any changes since I’ve been living here.”

-Crystal Harrison, stay-at-home parent in Alhambra

“We need more crossings between Valley [Blvd.] and Mission [Rd.] and crossings to go over the train tracks…[It seems] all residential streets dead-end and you can only cross at Fremont.”

-Jack Wagner, podcast host

Local leaders should “make sure they mix and mingle with residents about traffic safety concerns and about crime. Listen to Alhambra residents and their concerns.”

-Aaron Leung, semi-retired Alhambra resident