An online petition has been started in the hopes it will motivate the City of San Diego to install a lighted pedestrian crosswalk at Catalina Blvd. and Varona St. in Point Loma.
Begun by Sarah Mathy, the petition at Change.org, has, at this writing, 436 signatures.
It reads:
Install a Lighted Crosswalk at Catalina near Pt. Loma Little League & Parks
The Issue
The intersection of Catalina Blvd. and Varona St. in Point Loma is the frontage road to Pt. Loma Little League and Pt. Loma Park. There is a constant flow of vehicle traffic on Catalina in front of the parks’ entrances from surrounding workplaces, PLNU, and sunset/beach traffic. These parks are vibrant hubs of local activity, where little league baseball games, summer concerts, and various recreational activities take place. Hundreds of people are crossing Catalina each week to access the parks.
Unfortunately, despite the high foot traffic, this vital intersection lacks a lighted crosswalk, making it dangerous for pedestrians, especially our children. The nearest crosswalks are a quarter mile away, which forces families and park visitors to take unnecessary risks crossing without any safety measures. This safety concern is personal to me and many in our community, as it directly affects our day-to-day lives.
There is precedent for this crosswalk in our community. A lighted crosswalk was installed in front of Dana Middle School’s joint use field to assist with this same type of crossing to reach a community park. Similarly, a lighted crosswalk has been installed in front of Plumosa Park on Chatsworth and at Del Mar Ave. on Chatsworth where there isn’t a lighted crossing within a reasonable distance.
Building a lighted crosswalk at the intersection of Catalina Blvd. and Varona St. isn’t just a necessity—it’s an urgent need to ensure the safety of our community members. It’s a simple yet crucial step towards a safer, more pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.
I urge you to support this petition and show our city councilmember and traffic services the collective demand for the installation of a lighted crosswalk, prioritizing community safety and well-being. Please sign this petition to make our neighborhood a safer place for all.
The city also just placed one of these at Froude and Voltaire Streets. When questioned about the need for one, they said a crosswalk could be justified if it was more than 300 feet to the nearest controlled intersection. Looks like this crossing is justified.