Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez understands the need to protect the equestrian way of life in the Seventh District. She has been engaged with the equestrian community and is working on projects in response to community member’s requests.
Equine Advisory Council
Shortly after taking office, Councilwoman Rodriguez established an Equine Advisory Council. The diverse council is made up of local horse and ranch owners and was created to engage the equestrian community, thoughtfully address safety concerns, and work to create a contiguous trail system in the 7th Council District. The Advisory Council works with the staff in Council District 7 to advocate for equestrians on access to trails, safety and quality of life issues as it impacts this community.
Equine Evacuation Plans
Following the La Tuna and Creek Fires,Councilwoman Rodriguez met with the City’s Animal Services and Emergency Personnel Departments to create evacuation plans for horses and members of the community living in hillside areas.
Traffic Safety Projects in Equestrian Communities
HAWK Beacons: Councilwoman Rodriguez has secured $1.7 million in funding for the conversion of existing horse crossings (which currently flash yellow) to pedestrian hybrid beacons, which will turn red during the crossing to increase safety for pedestrians and riders.The district now has three hybrid beacons at horse crossings in Lake View Terrace and Shadow Hills, with two additional being installed in 2022 at horse crossings in Sylmar and Shadow Hills.
Equestrian Crossing Signs:
For increased safety, the Councilwoman has secured additional equestrian crossing signs to be installed at the intersections of Bradley/Roxford, Glenoaks/Bledsoe, Herrick/Roxford, Glenoaks/Roxford, Glenoaks/Cobalt, Foothill/Roxford, Foothill/Bledsoe, Borden/Tyler, Gladstone/Polk, and Gladstone/Sayre.
La Tuna Canyon – In 2018, Councilwoman Rodriguez partnered with LADOT to lead a community planning process to address serious traffic issues on La Tuna Canyon Road. Completed major traffic safety project in La Tuna Canyon, including road repavement, buffer zones for cyclists and equestrians, shared shoulder for cyclists and equestrians, new signage and restriping, and other measures to help prevent serious collisions and provide efficient travel for all users of this busy corridor
Shadow Hills – Worked with LADOT to increase safety along Wentworth Street, which equestrians have to cross to access trails in Hansen Dam. Increased crossing time to 50 seconds at horse crossings to allow equestrians and pedestrians more time to safely cross this high-speed corridor. Converted traffic signal located at the intersection of Wentworth St. and W. Shadow Hills/Coal Canyon Rd. from one that originally only turned red for Wentworth traffic when someone pulled out of the housing development to one on a regular sixty-second cycle, which now turns red to Wentworth traffic regularly to help slow the speed build-up that can happen along this road through an equestrian neighborhood.
Lake View Terrace – Following a traffic collision in October 2019 on Foothill Blvd. in Lake View Terrace which resulted in the deaths of two horses and serious injuries of their riders, the Councilwoman authored a motion directing City Departments, including the LA Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Street Lighting, Planning and more to increase traffic safety along this stretch of Foothill, to increase street lighting, and to work to create a contiguous bridle path. In 2020, upgraded all City and DWP street lights along this stretch to bright LED lights to increase visibility of users of the road. In 2021, completed a traffic safety improvement project along Foothill Blvd in Lake View Terrace, between Osborne and Wentworth, narrowing lanes, removing parking, restriping, and adding more signage and bollards to maximize shoulder space for vulnerable road users, such as equestrians, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Trail Creation, Repair, and Maintenance
In 2018, Councilwoman Rodriguez secured $1.5 million in grant funding for wildfire debris cleanup on publicly owned lands impacted by the La Tuna and Creek Fires. Local locations that benefited included multiple equestrian areas, including repair of La Tuna Canyon horse trails, removal of dead trees adjacent to trails on County mitigation lands in Shadow Hills, and removal of dead brush and trees in Hansen Dam riding areas.
Trail Creation, Repair, and Maintenance
Wildfire Debris Cleanup: In 2018, Councilwoman Rodriguez secured $1.5 million in grant funding for wildfire debris cleanup on publicly owned lands impacted by the La Tuna and Creek Fires. Local locations that benefited included multiple equestrian areas, including repair of La Tuna Canyon horse trails, removal of dead trees adjacent to trails on County mitigation lands in Shadow Hills, and removal of dead brush and trees in Hansen Dam riding areas.
Hansen Dam: In partnership with the Bureau of Engineering, completed the Hansen Dam Trailhead Project in 2021, adding bilingual signs and mile markers along equestrian trails throughout Hansen Dam.
