Montebello commission directs traffic analysis of truck routes after enforcement and collision concerns

The City of Montebello Traffic & Safety Commission voted to direct staff to carry out a traffic analysis to guide updates to the city’s truck‑route designations, after hearing from Public Works and police about repeated route violations and collisions.

Public Works presented the legal framework and the city’s current truck‑route map, invoking California Vehicle Code section 35701 — which allows local authorities to designate truck routes — and Montebello Municipal Code section 10.28.002, the city’s truck‑route provision. The presenter read the list of streets currently designated for truck traffic, including Villacampa, Garfield Avenue, Marketplace Drive, Paramount, Montebello Boulevard, Whittier/Beverly at the city edges, Olympic Boulevard, Washington Boulevard, Greenwood, Sycamore Drive and Telegraph Road.

The presentation noted the 2024 General Plan’s goods‑movement recommendations, including removing Whittier Boulevard east of Montebello Boulevard from the local truck‑route network and designating Montebello Boulevard between Whittier and Beverly as a connector for east–west freight. Staff told commissioners that any change to the truck‑route map requires an ordinance adopted by the city council, a traffic study to assess impacts when streets are removed from the network, and appropriate CEQA review and notice to Los Angeles County representatives.

The police chief described stepped‑up enforcement on a corridor between Olympic and Whittier. Officers wrote 42 traffic citations for off‑route violations in an eight‑day period, and a multi‑agency operation on Feb. 18 in Montebello resulted in 64 citations for a range of violations. The chief said many drivers told officers they were following GPS directions — “they're blaming GPS … I punched in GPS … it's directing me here, but they do admit that they know their signs,” according to the presentation.

Commissioners and staff described outreach steps beyond citations: educating local businesses and drivers about detour/truck‑route signs, sending notices to businesses whose drivers persistently violate routes, and escalating repeat noncompliance to code enforcement.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the analysis and return the results to the Traffic & Safety Commission for consideration of any municipal‑code changes; the motion was seconded and passed by recorded roll call. The motion’s recorded mover was Commissioner Takayama; the motion was recorded as seconded by the commission chair in the meeting record. The roll‑call responses recorded all affirmative votes and the motion passed.

Next steps identified by staff include commissioning the traffic study required for any proposed removals from the truck‑route network, performing CEQA review if necessary, and returning findings to a future Traffic & Safety Commission meeting for further consideration.

The commission’s action requires the council to adopt any ordinance that would formally change which street segments are designated for commercial truck use. Staff emphasized outreach and enforcement will continue while the analysis is completed.