Carrie Uva proposes neighborhood traffic safety plan
DOWNEY — After hearing repeated concerns about speeding while canvassing neighborhoods throughout District 4, Downey City Council candidate Carrie Uva announced plans to make residential traffic safety a priority if elected.
“One of the concerns I hear most often at the door is that drivers are traveling too fast through residential neighborhoods,” Uva said. “Parents worry about their children playing outside. Residents are concerned about crossing the street, walking their dogs or simply backing out of their driveways. Our neighborhood streets should be safe for the people who live there.”
A Downey resident for more than six decades, Uva has served as a Neighborhood Watch captain since 2016 and as a member of the Downey Community Emergency Response Team since 2019. She said those experiences have given her a firsthand understanding of residents’ public safety concerns.
If elected, Uva said she would advocate for a neighborhood traffic-calming program that gives residents a clear way to report problem streets and receive a timely review. Recommendations would be based on vehicle speeds, traffic volume, collision history, pedestrian activity and proximity to schools, parks and other community destinations.
Depending on the conditions of each street, Uva said potential improvements could include:
Neighborhood gateways and safer crossings: Install prominent neighborhood-entry signs, high-visibility crosswalks, improved lighting and curb extensions where appropriate. Uva would also support evaluating lower speed limits in locations where they are permitted by state law and supported by traffic studies.
Emergency-friendly speed cushions: Place speed cushions on documented speeding and cut-through routes where appropriate. Unlike traditional speed bumps, cushions can be designed to slow passenger vehicles while allowing fire engines and other emergency vehicles to pass with less delay.
Raised crosswalks and intersections: Construct elevated crossings near schools, parks and other heavily used pedestrian areas, making pedestrians more visible while encouraging drivers to reduce their speed.
Safer street design: Use pavement markings, curb extensions, landscaping and other design features to visually narrow overly wide streets and encourage motorists to travel at safer speeds while preserving neighborhood access and as much parking as possible.
Targeted cut-through controls: Consider turn restrictions, directional medians and traffic diverters on streets experiencing excessive shortcut traffic. Any proposed changes would be developed with neighborhood input and tested when possible before becoming permanent.
Speed-feedback signs and focused enforcement: Deploy portable radar signs and traffic counters to document speeding, alert drivers and help the Downey Police Department focus enforcement on the locations and times experiencing the most serious problems.
Uva would also push the city to use temporary materials for pilot projects, allowing residents and traffic engineers to evaluate proposed improvements before money is spent on permanent construction. Projects would be reviewed afterward to determine whether speeds and collisions declined and whether adjustments were needed.
“Posting another sign is not always enough,” Uva said. “We need to design residential streets in ways that naturally encourage responsible driving. At the same time, changes must be based on evidence, developed with residents and coordinated with police, firefighters and public works professionals.”
Uva has served on the Downey Planning Commission since 2021 and on the Measure S and Measure D Citizens’ Oversight Committee since 2017. She is also a longtime Downey attorney and licensed real estate broker whose legal and real estate practice has operated in the community for more than 30 years.
Uva said she would pursue county, state and federal traffic-safety grants to supplement local funding and prioritize neighborhoods with documented speeding, collision risks and heavy pedestrian activity.
“Traffic safety is a basic quality-of-life issue,” Uva said. “Downey residents deserve a city government that listens, responds and takes practical steps to make their neighborhoods safer.”