> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Utopians contribute to SM’s traffic jams
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/utopians-contribute-to-sms-traffic-jams/
- Published: 2007-05-07T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:01:55.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Ocean Park, #archive-import

*By BILL*

THE THREE CO-CHAIRS OF THE OCEAN Park Boulevard Improvement Committee (OPBIC) took issue with my April 9th column (”Expect more gridlock in the days to come,” page 4) when I wrote that traffic would worsen if we kept removing traffic lanes and turning streets into recreational landscapes especially on stretches of Ocean Park Boulevard west of Lincoln Boulevard.

OPB was widened nearly 40 years ago to accommodate increasing traffic to the new Santa Monica Shores complex, Main Street and the beaches. Despite even heavier traffic since then, much of the multilane section in Ocean Park was realigned a few years ago. Dual lanes funnel into single lanes leaving large areas of pavement empty and unused on some stretches.

Since then, Ocean Park residents have proposed more changes such as reducing traffic flow and installing landscaping, bike paths and walking trails among other proposals. OPBIC co-chairs wrote, in a letter to the editor (April 13, page 4), “that without reducing the existing number of traffic lanes, there are about two acres of excessive concrete and hardscape” on that stretch of road.

They’re right about wasted space. Poor traffic design is evident when viewed on Microsoft’s Virtual Earth http://local.live.com/ website. Aerial photos dramatically show the unused, empty space with astonishing clarity and detail.

It seems the co-chairs are open to maintaining current traffic flow without further reductions which is a good sign. We might not be too far apart, after all. They suggest turning the presently unused hardscape into green space with trees, bike paths, widened sidewalks and even allowing adjacent property owners to reclaim property taken for the original widening of the boulevard three or four decades ago.

They wrote that I felt it was “so undesirable” to have "less concrete and asphalt, with more trees and landscaping and permeable surfaces, and the opportunity to improve urban runoff mitigations..." Despite their false assertions, I have no problem with trees and environmentally friendly landscaping as long as traffic isn’t impeded.

The co-chairs sounded unnecessarily defensive when they wrote, "I should understand the necessity of suggested improvements” and “improve the quality of life in our city instead of complaining that someone can’t get from Venice or the Marina to West L.A. fast enough.”

When it comes to getting somewhere fast enough, perhaps OPBIC co-chairs Taylor, Jarow and Hubbell enjoy spending time sitting in gridlock, wasting expensive gasoline and polluting the air. Most people, including me, don’t. Suggested improvements for who? And, at what cost? The thousands of motorists who rely on OPB to get to work, school or shop? To me, quality of life is getting from here to there in a safe and timely manner.

They maintain OPB is a “residential street.” I say it’s a major artery. They wrote that OPB in Ocean Park carries less traffic than Fourth Street and half the traffic of OPB east of Lincoln. But, average daily traffic volume counts don’t agree. According to the year 2000 Speed Survey (the latest bi-directional count from the city Traffic Management Department), 15,620 vehicles travel OPB between Fourth and Fifth streets, 10,400 vehicles travel Fourth Street (at Raymond Park, the closest measuring point to OPB), and 23,030 vehicles drive OPB at 14th Street (closest measuring point east of Lincoln).

With varying separations between roadway and private properties and the concrete canyon created by the Fourth Street overpass, Ocean Park Boulevard is hardly “residential." Jam it and vehicles will divert to real residential streets. Bauer’s Rule: Proposed changes to major arteries should keep traffic moving on the main drag and out of family neighborhoods.

I’m wondering if OPB Improvement Committee co-chairs had considered additional and much needed neighborhood parking in "wasted space” or create less confusing, safer and more easily navigable traffic flow.

Why can’t some neighborhood activists get a clue? The function of major streets has been and still is “conduits of traffic.” They’re not potential parklands let alone the exclusive purview of neighborhood Utopians. With ever increasing traffic, isn’t there even more need for streets to carry it efficiently for the entire community’s benefit?

Using public streets for "the greening of Santa Monica" and reducing their capacity to move people has contributed to the most congested traffic in Southern California and terrible air pollution. Impairing our ability to get around and damaging the environment under the guise of sustain-ability is just wrong.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 7, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/050707.pdf?ref=smdp.com)