Montebello council approves all‑way stop at Third Street and Los Angeles Avenue after safety debate

The Montebello City Council voted unanimously to install a four‑way stop at Third Street and Los Angeles Avenue following residentsconcerns about speeding and near collisions.

City traffic engineer Daniel Oldham presented the staff analysis and told the council that the California Manual on Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requires specific warrants for stop signs, including volume, collision history and sight distance. He said the study found none of the warrants were met, including the volume threshold and a requirement of five or more collisions in a 12‑month period.

"The installation of stop signs do not absolve the city from potential liability," Oldham said during his presentation, noting that stop signs are meant to assign right of way and are not a cure for all safety concerns.

Mayor Pro Tem Tamayo and other council members said they had driven the intersection and heard residents describe repeated instances of drivers failing to stop. Councilmembers raising those concerns urged the council to prioritize on‑the‑ground observations as well as the written study.

Council discussion touched on the traffic and safety commissionprocess: the commission reviewed the traffic engineerreport and did not concur, prompting the item to be placed before the full council for a final decision.

After debate, a councilmember moved to approve installing the four‑way stop. The motion was seconded and carried in a roll‑call vote.

The council took no additional traffic‑control actions for neighboring intersections at this meeting; staff noted separate requests for Los Angeles Avenue at Fifth Street and elsewhere had previously been denied following the same warrant analysis.

The councildecision directs staff to proceed with installation of signage per city standards. Timing for installation was not specified in the discussion.