Tell the City to Install A High-Visibility Crosswalk on Washington Blvd at Hudson Ave
Pedestrian crossing Washington Blvd at Hudson Ave, Photo: Topher Mathers
On February 11th, Dennis K. Moore, a 61-year-old Pasadena resident, was hit by two separate drivers on Washington Blvd at Hudson Ave, the second driver fled. After arriving, paramedics pronounced Dennis dead at the scene of the crash. Dennis was crossing the street in front of his home, the Arbor Vista Retirement Center, in an unmarked crosswalk. Two blocks away another pedestrian, Christopher Andrew Mendez was hit and killed by a driver at Washington Blvd and Palm Terrace.
Memorial site for Dennis K. Moore
Photo: Topher Mathers
To prevent further tragedies, we are asking the City to install a high-visibility crosswalk at the intersection of Washington Blvd and Hudson Ave.
In California, the corners at every intersection are considered crosswalks, regardless if the crosswalk is marked or not. A marked crosswalk does not add to a pedestrian’s right to cross the street at an intersection because that right already exists. It merely enhances the visibility of the crosswalk and adds to the safety of the crossing.
Not only should a high-visibility crosswalk be installed at the intersection in response to the recent fatality, but also because of the intersection's proximity to transit and the neighborhood grocery store. Multiple transit stops are adjacent to this intersection on the northside of Washington Blvd. At Hudson Ave, there is an unsheltered bus stop for the Metro 268 line, as well as the Pasadena Transit lines 31 and 32. For anyone who lives south of Washington near Hudson, they would naturally cross at Hudson if they want to catch the westbound bus.
Unsheltered bus stop for Pasadena Transit Line 31, 32 and Metro Line 268
Photo: Topher Mathers
Another reason why the installation of a high-visibility crosswalk is warranted, is because of the proximity of the neighborhood grocery store and shopping center. With the current infrastructure a pedestrian, has to cover twice the distance in order to utilize the nearest marked and signalized crosswalk to reach the store. For example, if a pedestrian is coming from the northside of Washington Blvd, east of Hudson Ave they would have to walk past the entrance of Food 4 Less, cross at Lake Ave then walk back towards Hudson Ave past the surface parking lot in order to reach the entrance of the store.
The distance a pedestrian would travel with the installation of a high-visibility crosswalk indicated by the blue VS the distance a pedestrian travels with the current infrastructure indicated by the red
Photo: Google Maps
An example of a similar situation (a crosswalk adjacent to the entrance of a grocery store) can be found on Orange Grove Blvd at Manzanita Ave. After a pedestrian was hit by a driver, the City upgraded the existing crosswalk to a high-visibility crosswalk.
High-visibility crosswalk on Orange Grove Blvd at Manzanita Ave
Photo: Google Maps
We urge you to contact the City at lcornejo@cityofpasadena.net, hlao@cityofpasadena.net and request that a high-visibility crosswalk be installed at Washington Blvd and Hudson Ave. Please cc us info@pasadenacsc.org and feel free to use these talking points or use your own as to why a high-visibility crosswalk needs to be installed on Washington Blvd and Hudson Ave:
Prevent another pedestrian death or serious injury
Proximity to transit, Pasadena Transit line 31 and line 32 are located adjacent to the intersection as is the Metro line 268.
Proximity to neighborhood grocery store and shopping center
Anyone with information regarding the hit-and-run that killed Dennis is urged to contact Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously at (800) 222-8477.