Larchmont Chronicle Story Archive

Larchmont Chronicle Neighborhood newspaper representing Hancock Park, Larchmont Village
Miracle Mile, Park La Brea Fremont Place in the Wilshire center area of Los Angeles. Local News and
stories about the local Los Angeles Scene. Historical informattion regarding the Larchmont Chronicle and
Hancock Park area. Founded in 1963 on Larchmont Bouelvard, Los Angeles, CA, California

February 29, 2008

ONE-WAY TRAFFIC PLANNED FOR OLYMPIC, PICO

By Suzan Filipek

Traffic, traffic, development, and, well, traffic are on the minds of the members of the Miracle Mile Residential Assoc. (MMRA).

It’s getting worse, and a proposed city plan to re-direct traffic is not bringing relief.

“It has everyone up in arms,” from residents and business owners all the way to the westside, said MMRA president Jim O’Sullivan.

Initially, city officials plan to direct traffic mostly one-way along Olympic and Pico boulevards—along a seven mile stretch from Centinela Ave. on the west and ending at Fairfax Blvd. The first of the three-phase plan begins Sat., March 8.

"Once all three phases have been implemented, there will be four lanes heading in the preferred direction (i.e. Olympic heading west and Pico heading east), two going the other way on each boulevard," said Jonathan Powell, spokesman for the mayor.

Mayor Antonio Villagroisa and Councilman Jack Weiss proposed the traffic abatement plan. But to several residents and business owners on the two streets, it's a more like a “band-aid” to solve the traffic issue, said O’Sullivan.

Instead, city officials need to halt development until more public transportation is in place, from building more underground subway miles to above-ground monorails, he said.

A temporary restraining order was planned to be filed against the city by the Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.

The MMRA is among neighborhood groups, including Wilshire Vista and the Pico Neighborhood Council, that support the action and a follow-up lawsuit; it seeks to require the city to conduct a study of the one-way street impacts, under the California Environmental Quality Act.

The MMRA also opposes the city’s consideration of removing or amending preferential parking zones, including two in the Miracle Mile. Among them are several residential streets between Wilshire and Olympic boulevards.

“We know the traffic between Olympic and Wilshire is just going to be horrible,” O’Sullivan said.

Town hall meeting

A town hall meeting is planned in early April to address the one-way street and preferential parking proposals. Check miraclemilela.com for location, date and time.

Larchmont Chronicle
542½ North Larchmont Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90004

Editor & Publisher: Jane Gilman
Associate Publisher: Irwin Gilman

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Information about the Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, Miracle Mile, Park LaBrea areas of Los Angeles, california. The larchmont Chronicle provides information, news stories, local events, advertising, real estate information, real estate listing advertisings, Los Angeles area demographics and other neighborhood news.