Commission denies all-way stop at Bluff Road and Mountain View, approves red curb under daylighting law

The Montebello Traffic and Safety Commission on April 28 denied a resident request for an all-way stop at the intersection of Bluff Road and Mountain View, but authorized repainting pavement markings and adding red curb consistent with the state’s daylighting requirements.

Dennis Barnes, the city traffic engineer, told commissioners that the intersection did not meet the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) warrant criteria. He said the report showed an average daily traffic volume on Bluff Road of roughly 8,200 vehicles and that none of the MUTCD stop-warrant thresholds—typically 300 vehicles per hour on the major street and 200 on the minor street during an eight-hour period—were met.

Barnes recommended denying an all-way stop and instead adding red curb on the approaches and departures to improve sight lines. "What that does is it gives a motorist traveling along that roadway a better view if someone were to cross or be on the curb," he said, describing the daylighting treatment as 20 feet minimum on the approach and an additional 15 feet on departure.

Commissioners asked about likely peak-hour volumes and sight-line effects. Barnes explained that peak-hour traffic is commonly estimated as about 8–10% of average daily traffic and that the red-curb treatment would reduce parking that can obstruct visibility.

Vice Chair Knox moved to approve the traffic engineer’s recommendation to deny an all-way stop and to add the proposed red curb and pavement marking refresh; Commissioner Takayama seconded. A roll-call vote was unanimous: Commissioner Takayama, Commissioner LaRocca, Commissioner Hernandez, Vice Chair Knox and Chair Baez voted yes. The motion passed.

Barnes said the repainting will cover about 100 feet in each direction at the intersection and include reflective pavement beads to improve nighttime visibility.