Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Montebello traffic commission approves red-curb installations, denies all-way stop at South Fifth and West Los Angeles and removes downtown tow-away signs
Loading...
Summary
The Montebello Traffic and Safety Commission approved three red-curb installations, voted to remove a downtown tow-away/no-parking restriction, and declined a request for an all-way stop at South Fifth Street and West Los Angeles Avenue while ordering 20 feet of red curb and a six‑month follow-up study.
The Montebello Traffic and Safety Commission on an evening agenda voted to remove a downtown tow-away/no-parking restriction, approve three red-curb installations at separate intersections and deny a request for an all-way stop at South Fifth Street and West Los Angeles Avenue while instructing staff to paint 20 feet of red curb and return with an update in six months.
Traffic Engineer Dennis Barnes told the commission that counts and collision records did not meet the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) warrants for an all-way stop at South Fifth and West Los Angeles. Barnes recommended denying the stop-sign request but installing 20 feet of red curb on each approach, refreshing existing markings and measuring field conditions after implementation.
The commission unanimously approved that recommendation and added a direction asking staff to return with an update in six months. Barnes said staff found no reported collisions at the intersection in the three‑year period reviewed (March 1, 2022–March 1, 2025) and presented traffic volumes and pedestrian counts used in the evaluation.
In downtown business district parking changes, staff members said the request to remove a tow‑away/no‑parking restriction (7 p.m.–4 a.m., except Monday–Thursday) on Hueter Boulevard came from businesses including Boulevard Market. City staff recommended removing the signage to allow short‑term customer parking; the commission approved that action.
The commission also approved requests to install 20 feet of red curb at the approaches to the intersections of South Taylor Avenue & Beach Street and West Madison Avenue & North Fourth Street. Traffic staff said those requests aligned with the city's implementation of the daylighting law and municipal authority to paint or remove red curb to improve sight lines.
Commissioners discussed pedestrian activity near the South Fifth/West Los Angeles intersection, noting school bus pickup and child foot traffic. Barnes said pedestrian counts showed about 33 and 43 pedestrians in two evaluated time periods and that the MUTCD warrant analysis compares pedestrian and vehicular counts, left‑turn conflicts and delay criteria when considering stop signs. Commissioners agreed the red‑curb and marking refresh would improve sight lines and voted to revisit the intersection after six months of observation.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes from 09/29/2025 — motion passed (roll call recorded as yes from Commissioners Takayama, Hogan, Hernandez; Vice Chair Knox abstained because of prior absence). Motion mover/second not specified in transcript.
- Item 2 — Remove tow-away/no-parking restriction on Hueter Boulevard (7 p.m.–4 a.m., except Mon–Thu): motion to approve by Commissioner Takayama, seconded by Commissioner Hernandez; roll call unanimous among present members; outcome: approved.
- Item 3 — All‑way stop study, South Fifth Street & West Los Angeles Avenue: commission approved staff recommendation to deny an all‑way stop, install 20 feet of red curb at each approach, refresh markings and review results in six months. Motion by Commissioner Takayama, seconded by Vice Chair Knox; roll call unanimous among present members; outcome: approved (deny stop / install red curb / revisit in six months).
- Item 4 — Install 20 feet of red curb at South Taylor Avenue & Beach Street: motion by Commissioner Hernandez, seconded by Commissioner Takayama; roll call unanimous among present members; outcome: approved.
- Item 5 — Install 20 feet of red curb at West Madison Avenue & North Fourth Street (southwest approach): motion by Commissioner Takayama, seconded by Vice Chair Knox; roll call unanimous among present members; outcome: approved.
Commissioner oral comments included a request to study speed mitigation on Via Sandelaro, which staff agreed to evaluate and bring back for future consideration.
The commission's actions were procedural approvals and traffic‑control changes limited to striping and signage; no new fees or permit actions were adopted. Staff said implementation will be handled by the public works department and that field measurements will confirm red‑curb lengths before painting.
