LOS ANGELES (KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO) -- A plan favored by Mayor Villaraigosa to turn parts of Olympic and Pico boulevards into one-way streets to reduce traffic needs to go under further environmental study, a judge ruled on Monday. Judge John A. Torribio ruled in favor of the Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the Westwood South of Santa Monica Homeowners Association who challenged the adequacy of the environmental study done by the city of Los Angeles.
Many business owners fear that changing traffic patterns could hurt their bottom line. City Councilmember Jack Weiss, a supporter of the plan, told KNX "there is no question that when you try to solve traffic problems in Los Angeles you impact somebody, but we're talking about hundreds of thousands of people who desperately need traffic relief on a daily basis." Weiss says there is no doubt that supporters of the plan will go forward.