Community Petition: Make Palmera Avenue a One-Way Street

To: Los Angeles City Council District 11 / Department of Transportation / Neighborhood Association

We, the undersigned residents and community members of Pacific Palisades, respectfully petition for Palmera Avenue to be officially converted into a one-way street from Northfield Street to Los Lomas Avenue.

Why This Matters

✅ Improved Safety for Everyone — Especially Kids
Palmera Avenue is home to many families with children who walk, bike, and play nearby. Reducing two-way traffic minimizes unpredictable driving patterns and crossing risks.
Multiple traffic studies show one-way streets are safer for pedestrians and vehicles, with fewer conflict points, clearer sightlines, and more predictable driver behavior.

✅ Lower Crime and Theft Rates

Research shows that infrastructure changes like one-way street conversions can reduce crime. A study published in the Journal of Urban Economics (Lochner & Moretti, 2004)¹ found that such changes are associated with reduced vehicle theft and property crimes. Fewer escape routes, less transient traffic, and more predictable patterns make these streets easier to monitor and patrol.

✅ Safer and Easier for Drivers
A one-way flow reduces confusion, eliminates opposing traffic in narrow areas, and helps prevent head-on collisions and sideswipes. Drivers can navigate more smoothly and park with greater ease.

✅ Better Emergency and Service Vehicle Access
Palmera Avenue is only 24 feet wide. With cars parked on both sides, access for fire trucks and ambulances is already compromised. Garbage trucks regularly struggle to pass, and construction deliveries often block the entire street. Converting to one-way would significantly improve emergency response times and potentially save lives.

✅ Reduce Cut-Through Traffic from Navigation Apps
Apps like Waze and Google Maps redirect drivers off Sunset Boulevard and into our neighborhood, causing increased noise, speeding, and dangerous conditions. A one-way designation would help curb this misuse.

✅ Support Construction and Infrastructure Work
One-way flow makes it safer to accommodate construction vehicles, equipment staging, and deliveries, reducing congestion and disruption for residents.

✅ Improve Neighborhood Quality of Life
A one-way street discourages unnecessary through-traffic, reduces speeding, and promotes a calmer, quieter, and safer neighborhood environment.

We Respectfully Request the City To:

1. Conduct a traffic and safety assessment of Palmera Avenue.
2. Hold a public hearing or community meeting to discuss this petition.
3. Move forward with converting Palmera Avenue into a designated one-way street from Northfield Street to Los Lomas Avenue.

Thank you for your attention and support in making our neighborhood safer and more livable!

Sincerely,
The Undersigned Residents of Pacific Palisades