1

Preventing Suicides at the Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge

May 2006

2

Purpose of our meeting

Discuss: Strategies for addressing suicides at the bridge Rescue and recovery operations: Commander

Dominick Palera, County Sheriff’s Department Understanding and preventing suicide, and how it

relates to bridge jumping: Dr. Lisa Firestone, The Glendon Association

Receive: Feedback from the citizens on course of action

3

The Issue and Concern:

43 people have committed suicide at the

bridge since it was built in 1963

31 have committed suicide since 1981

19 were aged 21-40

14 were aged 41-60

32 were male

11 were female

4

Further Demographic Breakdown

27 resided in southern Santa Barbara County (from Carpinteria to Goleta)

7 lived in northern Santa Barbara County (Santa Ynez Valley to Santa Maria)

9 were from various California counties

5

County Sheriff's Department

First contact experience

Frequency of events and call outs

Manpower and resources - cost of a rescue or recovery

The difficulty of victim recovery

Road Closure

Staff safety

Video of recent suicide attempt

6

Multi-functional Task Force Formed to Investigate the Issue and Identify Possible

Means to Reduce Suicides

County Sheriff’s DepartmentCHP

CaltransThe Glendon Association

Emergency and Health ServicesFamily Service Agency/211

SBCAGElected RepresentationCounty Public Works

7

Potential Strategies

Hotline Call BoxesVideo CamerasPull-out restrictionsAdditional SigningAdditional LightingPublic EducationPedestrian BarricadesSafety Net

8

Call Boxes

9

Suicide Hotline Call Boxes

Such connections not available at this time

10

SIGNING

Current Sign posted at Cold Spring Bridge

11

Possible Additional Message Signs

We Care About You Distress Center--We listen 24 hours a day

Statistically, signs have limited effectiveness

Clifton BridgeGolden Gate

12

Video CamerasLocal law enforcement agencies lackresources for visual monitoring

Do not prevent suicide

May serve as a suicide attraction

Surveillance and Patrol

Local law enforcement agencies lack resources for visual monitoring

13

Lighting Lighting has not proven to be an effective deterrent

Safety NetInstalled underneath the bridge

Can be an effective barrier for helping to reduce suicides - alternative proposal

Rescue from a net can be problematic

14

Public Parking/Pull Out Areas

Restricting parking or closing off pull out areas may not be effective in reducing suicides

Some people park in the middle of the bridge

Caltrans Maintenance requires pull out access to both ends of the bridge

15

Public Education

Educate the public through the local media and community meetings and events

Provide public awareness that dialing 9-1-1 is best for notifying law enforcement in emergencies

16

Pedestrian Barrier

Demonstrated internationally to be the most effective strategy for preventing bridge related suicides

Effective barrier height is six feet tall

Can be constructed with aesthetic priorities

17

Research & Findings

Restriction of Means:Preventing the ability to jump

How effective is it?Studies show that when people are prevented from jumping, they do not go on to commit suicide by other means.Example: Of 515 people who were prevented from jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, only 6 percent went on to commit suicide.

18

Research & FindingsRestriction of Means:Preventing the ability to jump

Example: Ellington and Taft Bridges in Washington D.C. Barricade placed at Ellington, but not on nearby Taft.

Suicides at Ellington decreased from average of 4 per year to 0 after barricade was installed.

Suicides at nearby Taft Bridge did not increase.

19

Research & Findings

EllingtonTaft

20

What Does Pedestrian Fencing Look Like?

Ellington

21

What Does Pedestrian Fencing Look Like?

Cold Spring Arch Bridge

Pasadena Colorado Street Bridge

22

What Does Pedestrian Fencing Look Like?

Pasadena Colorado Street Bridge

23

What Does Pedestrian Fencing Look Like?

Luminous VeilClifton Suspension

Bridge

24

What Does Pedestrian Fencing Look Like?

Sydney Harbor

25

Golden Gate Bridge

26

One of 3 Proposed Barriers for the Golden Gate Bridge

27

How much would a pedestrian barricade cost?

Preliminary Estimate: $200,000 to $300,000

Investigating eligibility for Department of Transportation Safety Program Funding

28

How difficult is it to get clearance to work on the bridge?

The bridge is likely eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places

Architectural studies required

Historical Resources Evaluation Report required

Federally funded projects must comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act

29

A Finding of Effects document will need to be prepared, depending on the type of bridge modification proposed

Any modification deemed an “adverse effect” on the bridge will require further consultation with Federal Agencies, and perhaps the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

Environmental Clearance cont.

30

Difficult to assess at this pointProject design Environmental reviewPermitting

How long would a project take to install a pedestrian barricade?

Interim Fencing Advisable?

31

Commander Dominick PaleraCounty Sheriff's Department

Lisa Firestone, Ph.D.The Glendon Association

NEXT: