With regard to the recent closure, and subsequent reopening, of Civic Center Way and the pending formation of the Blue Ribbon Committee by the City Council to present and discuss options for increased safety on the road, I would like to suggest two viable options for consideration, either of which should be able to easily be implemented on Civic Center Way. Every Sunday, the Malibu Presbyterian Church employs (and pays for, without City or taxpayer funds) a private traffic officer to intermittently stop traffic in both directions on Malibu Canyon to allow the church’s parishioners to exit the church parking lot safely onto Malibu Canyon at the end of services. Surely the same could be done at Webster and Our Lady of Malibu schools to allow the parents picking up their children to exit more easily from Winter Canyon onto Civic Center. Our Lady of Malibu and Webster could employ a traffic officer independent of taxpayer or City funds just as Malibu Presbyterian does. Certainly the parents should be happy to bear the nominal cost of this to further enhance the safety of their children.
As to the driveway for the condos, a suggestion would be for signage to alert drivers on that stretch of Civic Center to the blind driveway. Signs warning drivers of “Hidden drive” mark many such hidden exits all over Los Angeles. Rather than the usual yellow traffic signs, I have seen some (particularly in Montecito) that are a bright neon green, accompanied by a neon green flashing light for further impact, that are posted in both directions in advance of the hidden drive to warn motorists to use caution.
Though not a part of the council’s committee, I would like to contribute these suggestions. I would encourage anyone else with suggestions for Civic Center Way to send them to the City Council members via fax (310-456-3356) or e-mail (e-mail addresses available on the city’s website: www.ci.malibu.ca.us).
Kathy Penner