Cars often sped through the busy intersection, parents said, making it unsafe for children using the crosswalk. The intersection also became gridlocked during the early morning, as parents dropped off children, and impatient commuters rushed to work.

Former Bagby parent Barbara Daviano remembers when her 31-year-old son was in the fourth-grade and was nearly hit by a car. After the incident, Daviano chose to drive her son to school, even though they lived only blocks away.

Gary Chronert, Cambrian School District board president, also refused to walk his children to school without a crossing guard present.

"Driving through Leigh was safer than walking," he said.

The problem has become worse over the past decade, as the school community grew, parents said.

"It became more and more unsafe every year," parent Anne Moses said.

Then in 2003 a crossing guard was hit by a boat that became unlatched from its trailer as the driver drove through the intersection. Although the guard was not seriously injured, it reminded the community that a stoplight near the school was long overdue.

The incident united parents, neighbors and Bagby and district officials. The group worked with San Jose District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager and District 9 Councilwoman Judy Chirco to turn a need into a reality.

The council members and community celebrated the new traffic signals on Sept. 6, which marked Bagby's first day of school.

"I really couldn't be more pleased," Yeager said, standing near the intersection. "It's such a dangerous intersection, and we all know this traffic signal will save lives."

Yeager said installing the traffic lights has been his number one priority since he ran for his district seat five years ago. The most difficult part, he said, was securing funding for the project.

Chirco, whose constituency includes numerous Bagby families, joined Yeager's efforts 1 1/2 years ago.

"We banded together and used as many chips as we could to make sure the project would get funded this year," Yeager said.

Several parents credited Yeager and Chirco for reviving the project after parents hit roadblocks with the city. Over the years, the school has tried to alleviate the problem by opening up parking in the neighboring church and redirecting traffic. During that time, it was commonplace to see the school principal or district superintendent standing in the intersection and guiding cars, Moses said.

Cambrian board trustee and Bagby parent Sue Pyne said the council members worked closely with the school board, Bagby's parent leaders and other city departments such as San Jose transportation and public works departments.

"We look forward to everyone safely crossing this intersection every day," Pyne said.