Pali Council Discusses New Speed Signs

Pacific Palisades Community Council members on Thursday discussed new electronic signs on Palisades Drive that display a passing vehicle's speed. Meeting attendees questioned the lack of public input and information on the signs' design, location and long-term effectiveness.

"We had no input whatsoever," PPCC member Paul Glasgall said. "If we continue to work in darkness with no information, it is not a great outcome. ... We sure would like to know what's going on with these projects beforehand."

Members were unclear on the source of funding for the signs, which are fixtures that required workers to tear up the sidewalks flanked by Topanga State Park. PPCC President Janet Turner and Joaquin Macias, a representative from Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl's office, said the signs and installation for the entire project along Sunset Boulevard cost $6 million.

Glasgall told Patch the signs are one mile north of Sunset Boulevard where several speed-induced, deadly car crashes have occurred.

Glasgall also noted his concern that drivers who purposely speed through the canyon "will now try to see how fast they can go and measure themselves" using the speed signs.

James Bailey, a resident who attended the PPCC meeting, lives in the Highlands area of the Palisades and told Patch he drives the road in question four times a day.

"It's one of the most dangerous roads I've ever driven," Bailey said. "The sign's a good idea, but over time I think people are going to acclimate to it and they're going to end up speeding just like they were before."

Editor's Note: The article was edited to clarify that the sign installation project cost $6 million for the entire project on Sunset, not just the Palisades Drive portion.