Editor’s note: Christy Licker, who was hit by a car in the Trout Gulch Road crosswalk, called for a flashing crosswalk light to slow down cars and avoid collisions. How expensive is a flashing light? Where can the money come from? Here are emails from Aptos resident Hugh Voris and county Supervisor Zach Friend.
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Sept. 28: While crossing Trout Gulch Road at the intersection with Valencia Street in Aptos, Christy Licker, Director of Caroline’s Non-Profit shop, was struck by a car and sustained multiple injuries. The driver stated that she did not see Christy even though she was walking in a properly marked pedestrian crosswalk.
Trout Gulch Road is extremely busy at that location, flanked by the post office, restaurants, shops, and homes. Flashing yellow lights warning drivers that someone is in the marked crosswalk would have probably prevented Christy’s unfortunate accident.
I and others strongly request that Santa Cruz County implement a pedestrian crossing warning light system for this super busy crosswalk.
— Hugh Voris
Sept. 28: Public Works has already started looking into ways to improve visibility at this location — today we provided photos of the spot to our Roads team and they are looking at what’s possible (both in the short-term and longer-term) at that spot.
— County Supervisor Zach Friend
Oct. 9: In the matter of the safety issue at the crosswalk on Trout Gulch Road and Valencia Street, not only was Christy Licker, founder of Caroline’s Nonprofit, injured in the previously mentioned accident but another person sustained injuries at the same time.
As a reminder, the driver of the vehicle stated that she did not see these people or the crosswalk before the collision.
A few pertinent other points:
Both pedestrians were in the middle of the painted marked crosswalk at the time of the accident.
Both sustained physical injuries.
The intersection is adjacent to the Aptos Post Office, New Leaf Market, Valencia elementary School, Caroline’s Non-profit Shop, Mentone Restaurant, Bayview Hotel, Betty Burger Restaurant, Aptos Barbecue and a host of dwelling units and other small shops.
Consequently there is a lot of foot traffic moving across the street at that location.
It is also a fact that people were actually hurt there by someone claiming that she did not see the crosswalk or the people. It is not just a matter of conjecture about what could happen. It did happen (and shouldn’t have).
I understand that Ms. Licker was informed that installing flashing yellow crosswalk occupied lights would be too expensive to install.
Everything is a tradeoff. Safety issues sometime come in last in budget tradeoffs, but in this case there is hard evidence that some highly visible warning device needs to be installed to protect pedestrians. Risk of future injuries or death, potential lawsuits, and other consequences of future accidents should be taken into consideration.
Please reconsider the need for pedestrian occupied warning lights at this intercession.
— Hugh Voris
Oct. 20: The well-written article titled “Aptos Shop Owner Hit at Crosswalk” in the Oct. 15 edition of the Aptos Times underlined the need for pedestrian warning devices at the noted crosswalk.
I know that Ms. Licker has written you asking for feedback on her request for a pedestrian occupied warning light to be installed at that location, as have I.
So far we have received no indication that this request has been seriously considered or acted upon. My second attempt of Oct. 9 has been unanswered.
When an obvious need for assistance to protect the safety of the public is so clearly brought to your attention, we look to you, our political leaders and appropriate county department heads to take the necessary action. So far Christy Licker has received a response that says it’s too expensive, and I have received no response to my email to you on Oct. 9.
Please advise what, if any, action you are taking in this matter.
— Hugh Voris
Oct. 20: I’ve spoken with a few other constituents that have asked questions about this and here are the things that have been done:
First, I went out to take photos of the intersection for Public Works to review immediately after the incident. Second, Public Works and their traffic engineers have been out to the site to start the evaluation process of viability for putting in the beacon system there (as we have placed further up the street by the post office).
Soquel Drive crosswalk’s flashing light
After determining viability (which includes sight lines, whether it’s public or private property where they would need to be placed etc) then the funding process is considered. I saw Jondi wrote about that in a follow-up email.
Our previous costs have varied for these types of installs but they range usually in the $25,000-$35,000 acquisition and installation costs and have ongoing operations/maintenance costs including electricity costs that as of a few years ago was estimated around $5,000/year (so perhaps that has increased).
In two of the three previous installations of these beacon crosswalks, some of the longest timeframe was due to the PG&E approvals and trenching required for it — but there isn’t a pot of funds specifically dedicated for them (it comes from the Roads fund which is used for Roads repair) or grant funding (like we are getting for the ones on Soquel as part of the State CTC funding or federal funding for the one that will be installed outside of Rancho Del Mar or previous state funding that was made available for Buena Vista, Seascape etc).
Those funds are currently obligated so either a currently scheduled Roads project would not be done this year or we would need to identify a separate funding stream.
Public Works is also looking at ways to seek a quick funding stream post viability determination.
It’s not accurate to say there is “no indication that this request has been seriously considered” — the process isn’t as immediate as I understand you would like but there is a process that requires evaluation of viability, potential negotiation with private landowners for the location of the lighting, PG&E negotiation for install and funding availability.
While I recognize, and Christy can also attest to this since she’s on this chain, that you noted the driver said she couldn’t see based on the time of day the driver also was impaired at the time and when I spoke to the CHP, it wasn’t clear to them that a crosswalk modification would have prevented this incident.
With that said, that doesn’t take away from the validity of the need of such a thing, but the context of the incident matters.
Thanks for your interest in Aptos Village safety — I know that Matt and his entire team take local bike and pedestrian safety very seriously.
Looking at the Soquel corridor we sought (and after multiple years of advocacy including both Matt and myself testifying multiple times to the California Transportation Commission) and received the largest state investment in bike/ped safety we’ve ever received in the County — hence the new sidewalks, protected bike lanes and beacon crosswalks that are under construction there.
— County Supervisor Zach Friend
Top Picture: Trout Gulch Road crosswalk