Judge sides with foes of street plan

A judge issued a tentative ruling Tuesday that the city must do a thorough environmental study before turning Olympic and Pico boulevards on the Westside into virtual one-way streets.

The two-page ruling by Superior Court Judge John Torribio sets the stage for a hearing today in Norwalk where oral arguments will be heard. A business group and a homeowners group have each filed lawsuits over the proposed project.

The controversial plan is being pushed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Jack Weiss. The project would initially change the signal timing so that eastbound traffic on Pico and westbound on Olympic are given speedier commutes. Some street parking also would be removed to add a lane of traffic during rush hour.

The city has argued that the modifications to roadways and traffic operations are exempt from more study under the California Environmental Quality Act. Torribio ruled otherwise, writing, “The very purpose of the project is to expand the use of the existing streets.”