Politics & Government

Loma Linda Looks to Improve Dangerous City Street

The section of Stewart Street between Campus and Anderson streets has become too dangerous and must be renovated, University officials said.

A section of Stewart Street between the campus and the Centennial Complex has become so dangerous that Loma Linda University officials have revived a four-year-old proposal to widen the road and build a pedestrian bridge.

A vehicle already struck one student and several others have reported near misses, said the university’s president Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, during a recent Loma Linda City Council meeting.

“We put in the light that solved things to a limited degree,” Hart said. “Unfortunately it is still a major traffic hazard and safety issue for us.”

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The conceptual plan for the $6 million project got the approval of the council earlier this month. The plan included lowering Stewart Street and widened it to four lanes. The bridge, or overpass above, would be 50-feet wide and be accessible to pedestrians walking from the east and west.

If developed the city would care for the street and the university would care for the road, officials said.

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City officials stressed that many more hurdles need to addressed -- including the relocation of utilities and Verizon phone lines -- before the project can proceed.

Hart said that he hopes that by widening the street, it would improve traffic flow around the university, as well as make things safer for pedestrians.

Eyeing the street on Monday, 25-year-old medical student Elizabeth Kern said students are well aware that crossing the road is tricky at best.

“I guess people see the light ahead, beyond the (center traffic) light, see it green and just go,” she said. “I’ve been scared by a car. I’ve nearly been hit.”

But most students have little choice but to cross the road.

“I just take it in faith that people will stop,” she said.

The problems go deeper, Hart said.

“The building is about 50 percent utilized now,” Hart said. “In time, the pedestrian traffic will increase more and more.”

Safety concerns arose about four years ago, prompting the city and university to address the issue. A $2 million commitment in redevelopment funds made by the city is still available and should be used in case the governor’s proposal to eliminate redevelopment agencies goes through, city officials said.

“I get emails all the time from people on campus that this is a major, major safety issue that’s unfortunately been neglected for too long,” said Mayor ProTem Ovidiu Popescu. “So the sooner we get moving on it, the sooner we will able to spend the money before the government takes it away.”


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