Pico/Olympic plan moving forward

The Times' Jean Guccione and David Pierson go deep on the proposed Pico/Olympic one-way route proposal, which backers see as a cheap (compared to a $5 billion subway) way to ease Westside traffic gridlock. Jean and David garner some new details of the proposal:

Pico and Olympic are unusual candidates for one-way conversion. Most one-way streets are one block apart, making it easy for drivers to switch directions. By contrast, the distance between Pico and Olympic varies. Through large swaths of West L.A., Mid-City and Beverly Hills, the streets are only two or three blocks apart. But in Century City and neighborhoods south of Hancock Park, the gap widens to up to three-quarters of a mile. Yaroslavsky said his plan calls for making Olympic westbound and Pico eastbound. Two lanes of each street — one in each direction — could be dedicated to bus traffic.

Are you sold on Pico/Olympic one-way? Or is it just a band-aid on a severe wound? Hit the COMMENT button and join the debate!

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Comments

[Dan L]

1) What's the point if you lose two of the lanes to buses? The buses will benefit by the increase in general speed. Don't take away those two lanes!
2) Olympic should be the one going East bound. It is more central, and has less commercial districts which means less slowing down due to people looking for businesses. It also has longer swaths between lights. The traffic jams I have consistently observed are usually going East, towards downtown.

In other words, Olympic East because one will benefit more overall, especially speed. When I have to drive East I currently use Olympic because it is consistently MUCH faster than Pico. On Pico there are so many lights and business districts, everything slows down.

[Scott]

This is an excellent idea. Especially about dedicating and enforcing a couple of lanes to buses only (a Westside version of the Orange Line in the Valley). They can structure the rush hour buses to be express between the Westside and Downtown. A key item not discussed is parking for the commuters. Also, the bus routes need to tie into the 7th Street Metro station which would give Eastside residents a reasonable public transportation alternative to the Westside.

[Rob]

I think this is a great idea. I don't see why it should stop with Pico and Olympic. I think L.A. should go the way of other big cities and change all of it's major roads to one ways.

[Tiki]

YES! YES!

I commute from Mid-Wilshire to Santa Monica and back every day for work. The traffic both ways is just wretched and something drastic needs to be done. Buses take too long. Rail won't be here anytime soon.

I like the idea of making Pico and Olympic one way only during commuter hours.

Please support it!