Santa Ana : Trial Scheduled in Suit to Rescind Traffic Plan

Superior Court Judge John J. Ryan on Tuesday rejected the city’s request to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the controversial north-central Santa Ana traffic plan and set a trial for Dec. 17.

A citizens group, Concerned Residents of Santa Ana, filed the lawsuit in an attempt to rescind the plan, which the city adopted in an effort to reduce commuter traffic on Flower Street and other roads in the north-central neighborhood.

The group alleges that the city doesn’t have the power to close streets to commuters and that the diverted traffic winds up in other neighborhoods. City officials respond that they have the right to make any changes, including closure, as long as no state laws are violated, and that the program will be offered in other heavily impacted areas of the city.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the City Council voted to institute permit parking on Greenleaf Street in response to residents’ complaints that they are inundated by overflow traffic from 17th Street businesses. The council approved the parking permits by a 5-2 vote and ordered the staff to make a report on the effect of the program 90 days after its implementation, expected in January or February.

Residents along Jefferson Place and portions of Heliotrope Drive, Ross, Flower and 19th streets will be polled to see whether they want the program set up on their streets as well. George Alvarez, city traffic engineer, said at least 50% of the residents must request permits before they can be issued.