Councilmember Cole Will Hold Follow-Up Community Meeting on Washington Boulevard Safety Concerns

Pasadena City Councilmember Rick Cole will host a community meeting next week to address dangerous traffic conditions along Washington Boulevard.

This will mark Cole’s second in-person District 2 meeting about Washington Boulevard traffic hazards since taking office in December 2024.

The Community Conversation is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 1, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Santa Catalina Library, located at 999 E Washington Boulevard.

The meeting follows the release of recent city data revealing vehicles traveling at high speeds in the area (one was reportedly recorded at 84 miles per hour), as well as tragic traffic-related incidents, including a fatal motorcycle collision in February.

“Washington Boulevard, the major east-west thoroughfare between Orange Grove and the northern city limits, has become a four-lane expressway, putting the lives of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists at risk,” Cole said. He emphasized that “traffic speed enforcement can have only limited impact on a street that is designed for speeds well above the posted limits.”

The upcoming meeting builds on momentum generated during Cole’s March 2 “Walk and Talk” event, which attracted nearly 100 residents who observed safety, walkability, and accessibility issues firsthand. Participants focused particularly on the stretch between Lake Avenue and Hill Avenue, an area housing residents, an elementary school, a library, a post office, two churches, and multiple local businesses.

City measurements collected over the month preceding March 24 documented multiple readings exceeding 70 miles per hour on Washington at Mar Vista Avenue. Even more alarming, the highest recorded speed was 84 miles per hour at 1:30 in the afternoon. These statistics underscore the urgency of the safety concerns Councilmember Cole is addressing.

The urgency for safety improvements intensified following recent incidents. In early February 2025, a 44-year-old Pasadena motorcyclist died after a collision with a vehicle at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Washington Boulevard. The victim sustained major injuries and was transported to Huntington Hospital in critical condition, where he later died. Cole also noted that three months earlier, “a car ran up a hill and demolished the front wall of an apartment” in the same vicinity.

Cole’s approach involves “a comprehensive approach of education, enforcement and re-engineering.” As a member of the Municipal Services Committee, he has called for the Police and Transportation Departments to report on the conditions and potential remedies for speeds on Washington Boulevard.

Following this April 1st session, the next step will be establishing a volunteer task force to identify the best traffic calming solutions and build consensus for a realistic implementation and funding plan. This methodical approach demonstrates Cole’s commitment to addressing the issue through community-driven solutions.

Cole’s focus on Washington Boulevard safety aligns with priorities he discussed throughout his campaign. Re-elected to the District 2 Council seat with 60% of the vote in March 2024, Cole took office in December 2024. He previously served on the council for twelve years from 1983-1995 before working as City Manager in Azusa, Ventura, and Santa Monica, as well as Los Angeles’ Deputy Mayor for Budget and Innovation. Throughout his recent campaign, Cole consistently discussed speed and safety concerns with District 2 residents.