HUNTINGTON BEACH : New Signals Will Go Up Near Church

Responding to a large number of traffic accidents near Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, the city has agreed to install left-turn arrow signals on two streets and build left-turn lanes.

Parents and clergy at the church have pressed city officials for the improvements, claiming the intersection is dangerous to the large number of schoolchildren who walk the streets in that area.

There were three car accidents in two days in late July at the Indianapolis Avenue and Magnolia Street intersection near the church. According to police, there were 29 accidents at the intersection between August, 1992 and July 30 of this year.

Assistant City Administrator Ray Silver said Thursday that left-turn arrow signals on both Magnolia Street and Indianapolis Avenue will be in place by Feb. 16, 1995. Left-turn lanes in both directions on Indianapolis Avenue will be installed by Sept. 30 of this year, Silver said.

About 25 church members attended this week’s City Council meeting to urge the council to make the intersection improvements a top priority. More than 50 people from the church congregation attended the Aug. 1 meeting to make the same request.

“One of my greatest fears is that one of our children will be killed at this dangerous intersection as a result of our inaction,” said Father Gus Krumm.

Krumm said there are eight public and private schools in the vicinity of the intersection. The council agreed Tuesday to make the intersection the top priority among the 23 intersections that are in need of signal improvements. The decision places the intersection first in line for funding and moves up installation of the signals from May, 1995, to February of next year.

But Mayor Linda Moulton Patterson said this week she was disappointed that the signals won’t be installed until February.

“I just want them in as soon as possible. For the safety of the children, I want to see our staff expedite it as fast as they can,” Moulton Patterson said.

Silver said that staffers are examining ways to speed up the installation of the signals and will suggest options at the council’s Sept. 19 meeting.

The cost for the left-turn arrows will be about $60,000. The council is expected to approve the expenditure when it adopts the city’s budget for the next fiscal year later this month.

Krumm said everyone is pleased with the council’s decision installed.

“It means fewer accidents on the corner and a lot safer intersection at Indianapolis and Magnolia,” he said.