Aliso Viejo keeps Hummingbird Lane striping but approves two bus-stop paintings after resident safety concerns

Aliso Viejo city council voted to keep current striping on Hummingbird Lane and approved painting two designated school-adjacent bus stops following resident concerns about speeding.

Public Works Director Sean Pelletier told the council that two radar feedback signs installed in mid-July have reduced the 85th-percentile speed by roughly 5 miles per hour — to about 23–24 mph — and that staff is considering additional, low-impact measures such as white edge lines and channelization striping near Aliso Creek Road. Pelletier said the signs have shown measurable improvement and that one or two additional feedback signs could be added if council directs it.

The discussion followed a public comment from resident Jennifer Hedgecock, who said a woman pushing an infant in a stroller was struck while using a crosswalk on Sanborn Street near an elementary school and asked whether the council could agendize a stop sign or speed bumps. "A woman, walking across the crosswalk with her 8 month old baby was struck by a car," Hedgecock said. "The only reason why the baby wasn't hit is because the woman had to push the stroller out of the way." City manager staff acknowledged the concern and said public works would follow up.

Council members debated the relative benefits of paint-only measures versus physical changes. Several members, including Council Member Munzing, said neighborhood feedback had been mixed and urged caution about wide-scale new striping. After discussion the council bifurcated motions: it voted first to leave the striping as-is (motion passed unanimously) and then approved a separate motion to complete painting and signage for two bus stops, with a roll-call outcome of four yes and one no.

Staff estimated the cost of paint/channelization for small bump-out markings or edge lines at roughly $1,000 to $2,000 per location; a single painted section could be about $1,000. Pelletier and other public-works staff said painting and channelization are comparatively low-cost and could be implemented quickly, while physical speed humps would require a more formal process and greater impacts to property access.

The council directed staff to keep the low-cost options available and to contact residents who had raised concerns; staff said they would monitor the radar-sign performance over a longer period before proposing additional measures. The motion to leave striping unchanged passed by unanimous roll call, and the bus-stop painting motion passed with one dissenting vote.

The council's decision leaves the city able to act quickly if residents report renewed issues, while avoiding immediate additional expense or permanent no-parking changes in residential areas.

The council will receive further updates if staff recommends more treatment or if additional community input warrants a new agenda item.