Votes at a glance: Montebello commission approves closure for grade‑separation, orders multiple red‑curb and sign changes

The Montebello Traffic and Safety Commission recorded votes on several agenda items at its June 30 meeting, approving traffic controls for the Montebello grade‑separation project and taking action on multiple stop‑sign studies, red‑curb installations and parking requests.

Votes at a glance

- Approval: Minutes of the April 28, 2025 Traffic and Safety Commission meeting. Outcome: approved (roll call recorded as affirmative by Commissioners Takayama, Hernandez and Chair Bass).

- Approval: Item 2 — Montebello Boulevard grade‑separation construction measures (closure of Olympic Boulevard at Montebello Boulevard; temporary stop sign at Greenwood and Truckway; temporary truck routing on Fourth Street between Olympic and Whittier). Motion carried; mover Commissioner Hernandez, second Commissioner Takayama; vote recorded 3–0 in favor.

- Item 3 — Harding Avenue and Taylor Avenue: staff presented an all‑way stop warrant study referencing the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) thresholds. Staff recommended denying an all‑way stop because traffic volumes and collision history did not meet MUTCD warrants and instead recommended installing red curb (daylighting). The commission approved staff’s recommendation, and directed staff to retake traffic counts (including counts during sessions when school is in session) and return in six months with updated data and coordination with the school district. Motion carried (roll call yes votes recorded).

- Item 4 — Kenan Street and Via San Del Oro: staff recommended denying an all‑way stop and installing red curb (daylighting) at the intersection. The commission approved the recommendation.

- Item 5 — 1140 Maxwell Street: blue curb (accessible parking) application. Staff evaluated driveway availability and recommended denying the on‑street accessible space because the applicant has on‑site driveway access. The commission denied the blue‑curb application after hearing an on‑stage statement from the applicant, who described limited practical driveway access due to a gate, slope and narrowing of the driveway.

- Item 6 — 100 Natasha Lane: staff recommended and the commission approved installing seven feet of red curb to protect driveway access and crosswalk visibility.

- Item 7 — 230 Cedar Court: staff recommended removal of 10 feet of red curb while retaining daylighting; the commission approved removal to add parking while maintaining required sightlines.

- Item 8 — 148 South Naples Avenue: staff recommended removing a short length of red curb in front of a resident’s property while maintaining daylighting at other approaches; the commission approved removal and staff will also review an associated street‑lighting request raised by the resident.

For most items the roll call recorded affirmative votes from Commissioner Takayama, Commissioner Hernandez and Chair Bass. Several items carried with no recorded opposition. Where staff recommended additional study (for Harding & Taylor), the commission directed new counts and school‑session pedestrian counts and asked staff to return in six months with findings.

Why it matters: the actions collectively address immediate sightline and parking safety concerns in neighborhoods while preserving staff authority to revisit warrants for all‑way stops where school traffic or other conditions may change. The commission relied on MUTCD criteria and state collision databases (TIMSS) when evaluating stop‑sign warrants and on local daylighting rules (Assembly Bill 413) when recommending red curb.