Every weekday in Westchester, families face the dangers of a hectic four-way stop less than a mile from three elementary schools and a preschool. During school drop-off and pick-up, the intersection becomes congested with cars, bikes, and pedestrians and has already been the site of many accidents.

Despite having stop lights, the intersection lacks critical safety features:

• a protected left-turn arrow on Manchester
• clear lane signage indicating whether north and southbound Emerson is a one or two lanes
• signs indicating beginning and end of school zones on north and southbound Emerson
• only one LADOT crossing guard during peak school hours

Current infrastructure cannot handle the volume of traffic and foot traffic, putting children and community members at risk. 

We are requesting the following improvements:

• LADOT Traffic Study before the end of 2025
• Protected green arrow on Manchester for left turns to reduce confusion and collisions, significantly improving safety while improving traffic flow and reducing preventable collisions
• Improved signage to clarify lane flow and prevent dangerous last-minute changes
• Increased number of crossing guards during school drop off and pick up hours
• We defer to the expertise of our transportation and safety committees to determine the most effective improvements for commuters and pedestrians

These changes would create safer, more efficient traffic flow, protect pedestrians, and set a standard for prioritizing community safety in Westchester.

Without protected left-turn arrows, drivers rush through small traffic gaps, often at higher speeds, while paying less attention to pedestrians. This not only creates dangerous conditions at the intersection but also sends cars into the surrounding neighborhood at unsafe speeds.

Here are some facts about the dangers of unprotected left turns

• About 22% of intersection crashes involve a vehicle making a left turn (Federal Highway Administration, FHWA).
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that unprotected left turns are a leading cause of crashes at signalized intersections, largely due to misjudging gaps in oncoming traffic.
• Pedestrians and cyclists are also disproportionately at risk — around 60% of crashes involving pedestrians at signalized intersections occur during left turns (New York City DOT data)

We urge the office of Traci Park and LADOT to evaluate this intersection and  and move forward with these essential upgrades.

Please sign this petition to support a safer Westchester for our children and neighbors.   

WHAT CAN YOU DO                                                                                          

Share this petition! The more support we show, the faster the city can act.
 
 File a 311 report to show LADOT we are serious about making change. 

• 311 Traffic Safety
• You can choose from Bicycle Safety, Neighborhood Safety, Pedestrian Safety, School Safety, Vehicle Safety

Email our representatives with your concerns and personal stories of the dangers of this intersection.

• Traci Park - councilmember.park@lacity.org
• Jeff Khou - jeff.khau@lacity.org - Planning & Transportation Deputy
• Trey Grogan - trey.grogan@lacity.org