Plan to Relieve Street Congestion OKd by Council

Traffic is a major problem at Walt Muzyka’s Nissan dealership in Torrance.

Whenever a customer pulls into the lot on Hawthorne Boulevard, traffic backs up for a block. And when customers take a car out for a test drive, they are entering the most congested street in Torrance.

“We’ve seen the economy change over the last few years,” Muzyka said. “People are shopping out of the area.”

But business is starting to look up for Muzyka and hundreds of other business owners on Hawthorne Boulevard.

The Torrance City Council recently approved a plan to spend $88.5 million to improve driving conditions on its busiest street and make the commercial area, lined with shopping centers and office buildings, more accessible and attractive.

“Hawthorne Boulevard is the most visible part of our economic community,” said Mayor Dee Hardison. “We want to make some changes in that corridor that would keep traffic moving and give the street an identity.”

A three-year study of the area, conducted by the city, concluded that Hawthorne Boulevard is the busiest street in Torrance, with about 55,000 vehicle trips per day. The study anticipates that the volume of traffic on the street will increase by 30% over the next two decades.

The Hawthorne Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan was approved last week and focuses on making improvements to the six-mile stretch between Redondo Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, the most congested part of the street.

Steps would include encouraging ride sharing, increasing the frequency of public transportation and possibly adding a trolley system among shops and making the area more attractive to pedestrians.

The city also plans to bury utility lines and add trees and banners.

The project will be funded by the half-cent sales tax charge under Proposition C in 1990 to reduce traffic congestion and through Proposition A, a 1992 voter-approved bond initiative.

The city estimates that the project will cost $36.7 million, which will be spread out over 20 years, with $3 million annually for operating costs and maintaining the landscape.

Businesses support the project. Twan Vu, manager of Gameland, said improvements will make it easier for customers to come into the video game store. He said traffic has made it difficult for customers to get in and out of the store, which is accessible only from the busy street.

“I’m hope the changes will make it easier for customers to visit,” Vu said.