VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Public Works Agency’s Transportation Department and Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks commemorated the completion of the long-awaited new traffic signal at the intersection of Wendy and Gerald Drives. The new signal provides a safer path to school for students as well as a way to reduce traffic collisions.
“Completing safety projects is always important and rewarding,” said David Fleisch, VCPWA Transportation Director. “To see a school student use the signalized crosswalk while we were doing the ribbon cutting highlighted exactly why we applied for the funding to help complete the project.”
To celebrate the addition of the new signal, the channel pathway along the south branch of the Arroyo Conejo was opened for the day to residents and students to experience nature in an urban area. The channel walk featured speakers on watershed and flood control topics, and exhibits of local birds that will begin utilizing the newly installed raptor perches along the channel, installed as an alternative to pesticides for rodent control.
“It is my hope that students will one day be able to use the channel to walk safely to and from school. Now that the new signal has been installed it will enhance safe access for pedestrians and make driving and crossing Wendy Drive a safer experience,” said Parks.
Due to the traffic volume and collision history at this previously uncontrolled intersection, a portion of the funding for the traffic signal installation was provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Improvement Program.