Traffic commission rejects staff recommendation, seeks city council review on 4‑way stop at Third Street and Los Angeles Avenue

The Montebello Traffic and Safety Commission voted to reject staff’s recommendation to deny an all‑way stop at Third Street and Los Angeles Avenue and instead forwarded a recommendation for a four‑way stop to the City Council for final approval.

Dennis Barnes, the city’s traffic engineer, summarized the stop‑warrant analysis and said the intersection did not meet MUTCD volume and collision thresholds. "It does not meet the criteria that's required," Barnes said, and he recommended receiving the study, denying the all‑way stop request, and refreshing existing red curb markings.

Multiple commissioners and members of the public challenged the staff conclusion, citing persistent peak‑period congestion, parked vehicles blocking sight lines in photographs, and repeated near‑misses reported by residents. One commissioner said Third Street has become "a freeway" during peak periods and urged additional study and enforcement. Staff acknowledged the limitation that the MUTCD warrant process uses 24‑hour averaged counts and collision records reported to the city; those methods can miss peak‑hour safety problems.

Commissioner LaRocca moved to deny staff’s recommendation and to recommend installation of an all‑way stop and send the matter to City Council; Commissioner Takayama seconded that motion. In roll call the motion passed with Commissioners Takayama, LaRocca, Hernandez and Chair Baez voting yes. Staff noted the City Council has ultimate authority and that the city attorney (not present) had previously advised that deviating from standard data‑driven criteria can raise liability considerations; the commission chose to move the issue to Council for its determination.

The commission requested that staff coordinate with police for targeted enforcement during peak hours while the council considers the matter and that staff report back after Council action.