No tickets, but still no crossing
Ben Godar
Although tickets will no longer be issued to pedestrians who use a
disputed street crossing at the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport,
airport officials say they might revoke the security clearance of
employees who cross there.
The crossing leads from Terminal B to Star Park, a privately owned
lot that opened in January. Airport officials removed a crosswalk
from the area and put up no-crossing signs, and airport police issued
about 120 citations to pedestrians.
Airport officials have said increased pedestrian traffic at the
intersection has caused safety and liability concerns, but the owners
of the lot have accused the airport of trying to eliminate a private
competitor.
A judge this week threw out the $90 tickets of three people cited
for crossing, saying the Airport Authority did not have the power to
prohibit pedestrian traffic at the intersection.
Airport Police have since stopped issuing citations to
pedestrians, but airport spokesman Victor Gill said officials have
not rescinded a letter sent earlier this month warning employees that
their security clearances could be revoked for not following airport
rules and crossing in the disputed area.
“Employees sign an agreement pledging to follow all airport
rules,” Gill said. “If [someone] can’t follow those rules, it gives
us great concern.”
Gill said no employees have had their security clearances taken
away for crossing the access road, even though Star Park parking
manager John Rodriguez said more employees have been walking to the
terminal since Monday’s ruling.
The Burbank City Council took up the crosswalk issue at Tuesday’s
meeting. Airport Executive Director Dios Marrero told the council he
was not at liberty to discuss what, if any, future action the
authority might take to restrict crossing at the intersection.
Councilman Dave Golonski made it clear he felt revoking employees’
security clearance was inappropriate.
“I don’t think the employees of Southwest, or any other employee,
should face losing their job for crossing at a crosswalk with a sign
that says you shouldn’t,” he said.
Marrero reiterated airport officials’ safety concerns, and said
when pedestrians leave the curb, they fan out in all directions
across the airport’s access road. He also said the lot’s owners have
not made an effort to educate their customers about how to safely
reach the terminal.
“You show up in that parking lot, go to the covered parking and
there’s no signage,” he said. “The property owner is not helping our
situation at all.”
Rodriquez acknowledged there are only temporary signs at Star Park
directing customers and said permanent signs, such as those
indicating where shuttle pickup occurs, are being made.
Despite the judge’s ruling, Rodriguez said Star Park officials are
directing customers who ask to take the shuttle instead of crossing
to the terminal.