Downtown Ojai Traffic Proposal Causing Debate

Ojai city officials are considering converting the main thoroughfare in downtown Ojai to a one-way street--a move that has already begun to stir controversy among local residents and businesses.

Converting several blocks of Ojai Avenue--part of California 150--to a multilane, one-way thoroughfare could ease growing downtown traffic congestion and help local business, Ojai City Manager Andy Belknap said.

Under the tentative plan, traffic on a portion of Ojai Avenue would be routed toward Santa Paula, with return traffic to be routed on a parallel street, possibly either Matilija Street or Aliso Street.

The City Council is scheduled to discuss the issue tonight and decide whether to request bids from consulting firms to study the feasibility of a one-way conversion.

Consultants would be asked to analyze advantages and disadvantages of such a plan, submit preliminary designs and monitor construction.

While the possible conversion is in an early stage, Ojai residents are already taking sides. Chamber of Commerce President Julie Wellings said the chamber has not taken a position on the issue, but plans to discuss it next month.

Beryl Tognazzini, owner of The Plaza Pantry, a restaurant in a shopping area on Matilija Street, has urged city officials to pursue the one-way plan.

“I think it’s a good idea, and I always have,” she said. The flow of traffic in downtown is awkward and prevents shoppers from realizing that there are many retail shops along Matilija Street, she said.

Sal Lucido, owner of Blue Sky Music, a record store facing Ojai Avenue, said he opposes a one-way conversion.

“It’ll make for faster traffic and people won’t stop,” he said. “I think there would be a lot of problems. I want to see studies that prove that it won’t hurt business. I want to see how it will affect me. I don’t want my business hurt because people don’t understand retail and traffic flow. I’d just as soon keep it as it is.”

Creating a one-way system could involve relocating residences and businesses, according to a city report.

In 1989, merchants along Matilija Street got a chance to see how a one-way system works when Ojai Avenue was made one-way for about a month during rehabilitation of the downtown Arcade shopping area.

Westbound traffic was routed along Matilija Street, apparently pleasing merchants and prompting many of them to petition the city to explore making the one-way street concept a permanent feature, Belknap said.

“The city has always been committed to maintaining the vitality of downtown,” Belknap said. “I think this study is certainly going to be aimed in that direction, maintaining the viability of the core of the city.”

Converting downtown Ojai to one-way streets has been discussed among city planners for more than two decades, Belknap said.

In 1968, consultants hired by the city issued a report proposing a one-way plan that included eliminating vehicle traffic on some downtown streets.

Belknap said one-way streets provide safer crossing for pedestrians. Prohibiting vehicles on some streets running perpendicular to Ojai Avenue could also make Ojai more pedestrian-friendly, he said.

“We want vigorous and healthy downtown pedestrian activity,” he said.

Belknap said he wants Ojai merchants to be involved in the decision-making process and would like at least one merchant involved in deciding what firm would be hired to do the study.

“We want a good public discussion of the issues, the pros and the cons,” Belknap said.

“It’s a big project, with potential for substantial changes,” he said. “It’s bound to be controversial, but I don’t think that’s anything bad. There needs to be a very open discussion about options. We may decide that things aren’t that bad and we might not need it.”

The city has budgeted $30,000 for the study, he said.