Peninsula Traffic’s Effect on San Pedro

I am extremely concerned about the continuing development and ever-increasing traffic from the peninsula cities into San Pedro and other nearby cities. The adverse effect of peninsula traffic on San Pedro increases daily.

The most disturbing part of the traffic problem is that the peninsula cities do nothing to solve it. In fact these cities continue to make the problem worse for San Pedro. A law was passed banning the driving of trucks through Rolling Hills Estates and Palos Verdes Estates, so now most trucks drive through San Pedro. Do the above city councils think that the citizens of San Pedro like trucks on their roads, or do they simply not care what they do to others?

Rancho Palos Verdes is planning to build two hotels, two or three golf courses, and innumerable new houses in their city. Unless everyone takes helicopters, these developments will generate an enormous amount of traffic which the streets of San Pedro cannot possibly handle. Rancho Palos Verdes’ city officials do not seem to care if their developments gridlock San Pedro traffic.

I applaud Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores’ proposal to make 1st Street one-way at the San Pedro border in order to regulate traffic flow into the city. I hope that she will also propose making 25th Street one-way at the San Pedro border and ban through trucks. Residents of San Pedro have the right to protect the quality of their neighborhoods. It’s time for the peninsula cities to deal with their own traffic woes and not just force them on other cities.

MICHAEL J. SHANNON

San Pedro