The Transportation Committee on Dec. 10 adopted a Los Angeles Department of Transportation report on the city's crossing guard program and approved an amendment directing LADOT to meet with the Los Angeles Unified School District to explore negotiating a cost‑sharing agreement for the crossing guard program.

Deputy Chief Richard Ray and LADOT staff told the committee that the crossing guard program is governed by the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the Los Angeles Administrative Code and noted MOU 34 governs crossing guard employment terms. Staff said the program dates to the 1950s, was moved from LAPD to contract administration in the 1980s, and has been city‑funded since fiscal year 1989.

DOT staff provided current program figures: in the 2025–26 school year the department deployed 427 crossing guards serving 297 schools at 383 staffed locations and manages a crossing guard program budget of approximately $13.3 million, of which roughly $1.3 million comes from traffic safety funds and the balance from the general fund. Staff also estimated that restoring approximately 100 lost traffic officer positions (vacancies lost over two budget cycles) and reallocating officers to support schools could cost roughly $9.5 million annually and would consume about one‑third of an officer’s eight‑hour shift to support morning and afternoon school bell schedules.

Council Member Hernandez offered an amendment asking LADOT to engage LAUSD to explore cost‑sharing; LADOT staff said the department had not yet opened that conversation but said they would do so if directed. Staff also said they will brief council offices with a preliminary list of locations that may be at risk for reassignment so offices and partners can ground‑truth the data.

Chair Hutt moved to adopt the DOT report as amended by Council Member Hernandez; the clerk called the roll and the motion carried. The committee's action directs LADOT to pursue meetings with LAUSD and to report back with findings and key considerations for any cost‑sharing approach.

DOT staff said LADOT will continue considering a tiered approach to school safety—deploying treatments such as speed humps, reduced speed limits and crossing guards in locations as the data indicates.

The committee did not direct a staffing reallocation to deploy traffic officers immediately; instead staff noted that with restored positions the department could consider assigning officers for limited shifts to manage major intersections near certain schools.