Traffic Safety Committee
Did you know that the intersection of Santa Monica Blvd and Chelsea Ave is part of the city’s "High Injury Network"? Yet, this is the designated daily drop-off point for our youngest students (TK & Kindergarten). The City of Santa Monica has developed a plan to fix this, but they need community support to fund it.
We need your voice!
Please join the PTA Traffic Safety Committee for a special study session to review these plans, with special guest speaker Carlos Hernandez, senior planner for the City of Santa Monica and study project manager for the Santa Monica Blvd Safety Study.
PTA seeks to draft a letter of support for the study recommendations with feedback from families. The plan goes to the Santa Monica City Council for adoption after two years of outreach, including in-person outreach at our school on three occasions (a 4th coming on the day of Jog-A-Thon) and an in-person community walk audit with McKinley participation.
📅 MEETING DETAILS
Topic: Santa Monica Blvd Safety Study Info Session
When: Monday, Feb 9, 2026 @ 7:00 PM
Where: Zoom (Link below)
Translation available, please contact president@mckinleypta.com with 48 hours notice.
🛑 THE PROBLEM
Currently, Chelsea Ave has no traffic signal, forcing families to cross high-speed traffic without protection.
- According to the city’s safety study 83% of crashes on this corridor happen at intersections.
- Injuries are significantly more severe at unsignalized crossings like Chelsea.
✅ THE SOLUTION
The City has proposed specific engineering safety enhancements for this intersection.
The proposed improvements include
- Pedestrian Traffic Signal: A dedicated light to stop traffic, allowing students to cross safely.
- Pedestrian Refuge Islands: A safe median spot in the middle of the street to shorten the crossing distance.
- New Crosswalks: High-visibility striping.
- Right-Turn Only Lane: Reducing collisions by minimizing conflicts between turning and through traffic.
- Directional Curb Ramps: ADA-compliant ramps guiding walkers directly into the crosswalk.
- Bike Lane Modifications: Creating a clearer path for cyclists.
🗳️ WHY WE NEED YOU
The PTA will be voting on whether to officially sign a letter demanding the City Council prioritize these specific improvements in the upcoming budget.
Join us to learn more and make your voice heard.
🔗 ZOOM LINK:
Meeting ID: 871 9313 4375
Passcode: 617622
Presented by the McKinley Elementary PTA Traffic Safety Study Committee. Members: Juan Matute, Jordana Haspel, open to others
