July 01, 2006 - Traffic Signal Unveiled

Traffic Signal Unveiled

July 01, 2006

News Article/IVDB

By Mason Stockstill, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

ONTARIO - Students crossing Euclid Avenue to Chaffey High School can breathe a little easier now that a new traffic signal has been installed at a dangerous intersection.

Officials from Caltrans, the city of Ontario and the Legislature held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning to inaugurate the new signal and crosswalk at Euclid and Princeton Street.

The signal, which has been operational for a week, was installed after two hit-and-run accidents late last year left one teenager dead and another hospitalized.

"I know this project will reduce accidents," said Sen. Nell Soto, D-Ontario. "One life has been lost, and that’s too many."

Caltrans data shows the intersection at Euclid and Princeton has an accident rate three times higher than the average for similar intersections around California.

It also had roughly 350 pedestrians using the crosswalk each hour during peak times, while 5,400 cars sped past the intersection per hour at the busiest times of the day, according to Caltrans data.

The two nearest intersections on Euclid, at Fourth and Fifth streets, also had higher-than-average accident rates.

"You look at Euclid, and the speed limit just doesn’t mesh well with students trying to get to school," said San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt, who lives on Euclid and counts himself among the "harried commuters" heading along the thoroughfare each morning.

The project at Princeton included installing traffic signals where there previously had been none, removing the crosswalk from the north side of the intersection and extending the center median so motorists can no longer turn left off of Euclid there.

The city had originally sought grant money to perform different upgrades, such as installing warning lights at street level that would be activated when a pedestrian stepped into the crosswalk.

However, the street is part of the state highway system and falls under the jurisdiction of Caltrans, which came up with a different plan.

Ontario Mayor Paul Leon said he was pleased with how quickly Caltrans was able to complete the project.

"This was done about as fast as anything I’ve ever seen," Leon said Friday.

Mason Stockstill can be reached by e-mail at mason.stockstill@dailybulletin.com, or by phone at (909) 483-9354.

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Traffic Signal Unveiled


July 01, 2006 News Article/IVDB By Mason Stockstill, Staff Writer Inland Valley Daily Bulletin ONTARIO - Students crossing Euclid Avenue to Chaffey High School can breathe a little easier now that a new traffic signal has been installed at a dangerous intersection. Officials from Caltrans, the city of Ontario and the Legislature held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning to inaugurate the new signal and crosswalk at Euclid and Princeton Street. The signal, which has been operational for a week, was installed after two hit-and-run accidents late last year left one teenager dead and another hospitalized. "I know this project will reduce accidents," said Sen. Nell Soto, D-Ontario. "One life has been lost, and that’s too many." Caltrans data shows the intersection at Euclid and Princeton has an accident rate three times higher than the average for similar intersections around California. It also had roughly 350 pedestrians using the crosswalk each hour during peak times, while 5,400 cars sped past the intersection per hour at the busiest times of the day, according to Caltrans data. The two nearest intersections on Euclid, at Fourth and Fifth streets, also had higher-than-average accident rates. "You look at Euclid, and the speed limit just doesn’t mesh well with students trying to get to school," said San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt, who lives on Euclid and counts himself among the "harried commuters" heading along the thoroughfare each morning. The project at Princeton included installing traffic signals where there previously had been none, removing the crosswalk from the north side of the intersection and extending the center median so motorists can no longer turn left off of Euclid there. The city had originally sought grant money to perform different upgrades, such as installing warning lights at street level that would be activated when a pedestrian stepped into the crosswalk. However, the street is part of the state highway system and falls under the jurisdiction of Caltrans, which came up with a different plan. Ontario Mayor Paul Leon said he was pleased with how quickly Caltrans was able to complete the project. "This was done about as fast as anything I’ve ever seen," Leon said Friday. Mason Stockstill can be reached by e-mail at mason.stockstill@dailybulletin.com, or by phone at (909) 483-9354.
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