Changes to parking regulations along State Route 79 in Descanso, California, have led to significant concerns among local business owners. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) recently implemented new parking measures that have already begun to affect sales and foot traffic for nearby establishments.
Business owners, including Brett Cooker, owner of Descanso Junction Restaurant, voiced their frustrations, stating that potential customers are opting to drive past rather than stop. “Definitely affecting business. People drive up and see all this and they just kind of keep on going,” Cooker remarked. Just days into the new regulations, Barby Wohlrabe, who runs Heirlooms Goods and Gifts, reported a sharp decline in sales, particularly from tourists.
The changes included the installation of no parking signs along SR-79, reducing available parking spaces dramatically. At the Descanso Trading Post, for example, six parking spots have been cut down to just two. In front of Descanso Junction, the number of spaces remained at six out of a total of 27.
In August, the parking project was temporarily halted following intervention from Senator Brian Jones’s office. However, local businesses received just a week’s notice before the changes took effect on August 25, 2023. Many residents expressed confusion over the rationale behind the alterations made by Caltrans. “It started when they contacted me and John and said we had to sign an encroachment permit to use our existing parking,” Cooker explained.
Local resident Beth Landrum, who has been advocating for traffic safety since 2020, noted that her previous service request for traffic calming measures received no response for three years. In 2023, Caltrans concluded that based on traffic collision data, no additional signage was warranted. “Two years later, this is what you get,” Landrum stated.
The need for improved safety measures became urgent following a serious accident in 2021 that resulted in two young girls sustaining significant injuries. John Elliott, the owner of Descanso Trading Post, highlighted that there has been insufficient focus on pedestrian safety. “I pulled the files, made copies, reviewed everything. There is nothing in there about parking. It’s all about Caltrans not taking care of pedestrians in this area,” Elliott said.
In response to the backlash, Caltrans issued a statement indicating that the parking area was re-striped in accordance with state traffic laws. The agency emphasized that parking on a state highway shoulder is typically prohibited except for emergencies. The statement also mentioned that Caltrans engaged with community members and business owners throughout the process to identify options that would enhance safety while minimizing adverse effects on local businesses.
Despite these assurances, local residents and business owners feel that their concerns have been largely ignored. “They’ve really turned their back on the community,” Landrum asserted. Wohlrabe added, “We have been trying to ask for speed bumps, for stop signs, anything that would help the traffic to slow down, and it seems so simple, but the no parking is definitely not the way to go.”
Caltrans acknowledged the incident from 2021 played a significant role in the urgency for safety and remedial measures along SR-79. As the community grapples with the immediate impacts of the parking changes, the ongoing dialogue between Caltrans and local residents remains critical in addressing safety and business viability in Descanso.
