Korean American Church Funds $1.2 Million Traffic Light Near Site of Fatal Crash

Yoonjae Jung
By Yoonjae Jung

A Korean American church concerned about speeding cars on the road in front of its building has successfully completed a self-funded traffic light installation, drawing community attention.

Korean American church-funded traffic light and crosswalk outside ANC Onnuri Church in Lakeview Terrace as residents cross the street
Congregants and local residents cross a newly installed crosswalk in front of ANC Onnuri Church in Lakeview Terrace, where the Korean American church funded a long-sought traffic light. Screenshot from Monica Rodriguez LA City Councilmember Facebook

According to local outlet San Fernando Sun, congregants of ANC Onnuri Church (All Nations Church) in the Lakeview Terrace area and Monica Rodriguez, a member of the LA City Council, held a ceremony last month on the 11th in front of the church’s main entrance to mark the installation of the traffic light.

The project was a long-standing goal of the church, pursued over about a year and a half. Construction began in April last year and was completed on December 10. The total cost of $1.2 million was fully covered through donations raised by members of ANC Onnuri Church.

The traffic light is the only one along a roughly 1.5-mile stretch between Whitland Avenue and Wentworth Street. The downhill section has long lacked sufficient signals, leading to frequent speeding and ongoing concerns about danger to both pedestrians and drivers. At a nearby intersection, one church member was killed in a traffic accident.

John Oh, who oversaw the traffic light installation on behalf of the church, said vehicles had effectively treated the road as a high-speed corridor. He said the speeding problem had threatened the safety of not only church members but also local residents.

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