Residents press council for quick fixes after fatal crash on Orange Grove; staff says traffic engineer assessing options

Residents from Orange Grove, Oliver and nearby streets described a recent fatal crash and a long history of high speeds and near-misses at a sharp bend connecting into the 110 and urged the council on Oct. 1 to take short-term and midterm actions to calm traffic.

Several nearby homeowners said they have seen repeated wrecks over several years and that emergency vehicles and high-speed drivers from neighboring Pasadena contribute to the danger. "The speed at which cars travel, the lack of visibility, signage, or whatnot makes us extremely worried and fearful," said a resident describing a collision that killed a driver and narrowly missed a home where a two-year-old sleeps.

City staff and the city's traffic engineer told the council they were already conducting a site assessment and that immediate and midterm options are under study. "We have our traffic engineers taking a look at that area right now, giving us some suggestions on what we can do to help provide more safety barriers," the city manager said. The engineer indicated staff has met with property owners and is assembling a toolbox of possible measures ranging from signage and speed boards to bollards and roadway design changes.

Mayor Pro Tem Rossi urged both short- and long-term planning, calling for a Vision Zero ad hoc and later emphasizing coordination with county Vision Zero efforts. "Vision Zero's focus is to have 0 deaths and 0 critical injuries," Rossi said and proposed forming an ad hoc to work on Vision Zero and related mobility plans.

What's next: Staff said they will return with design contract recommendations and a list of near-term measures under consideration. The council asked staff to prioritize the recent crash location among the top streets under review.

Ending: Residents said they appreciate staff response and urged the city to move quickly on both technical fixes and a longer-term mobility plan.