Caltrans has made significant changes to parking regulations along State Route 79 in Descanso, prompting immediate backlash from local businesses. After months of community opposition, the new parking scheme was implemented on August 25, 2023, resulting in reduced parking spaces and complaints from business owners who report a sharp decline in customer traffic.
Brett Cooker, owner of Descanso Junction Restaurant, stated, “Definitely affecting business. People drive up and see all this and they just kind of keep on going.” Business owners are voicing frustrations as the changes take hold, with Barby Wohlrabe, owner of Heirlooms Goods and Gifts, noting that “sales have plummeted with the tourists.”
Impact of New Parking Regulations
The alterations include the removal of several parking spots along the highway. At the Descanso Trading Post, six parking spots have been reduced to just two. In front of Descanso Junction, six spots remain out of a previous total of 27. These changes have left local businesses concerned about their future.
In August, the project was temporarily halted after intervention from Senator Brian Jones‘s office, but businesses were informed with less than a week’s notice that changes would proceed. Locals have expressed confusion regarding the motivations behind Caltrans’ actions. “It started when they contacted me and John and said we had to sign an encroachment permit to use our existing parking,” Cooker explained.
This situation has roots that extend back several years. Local resident Beth Landrum recalled her efforts in 2020 to request traffic calming measures from Caltrans, which only responded in 2023, citing traffic collision records as the reason no additional safety measures were deemed necessary. “Two years later, this is what you get,” Landrum remarked.
Safety Concerns and Community Response
In 2021, a serious accident along SR-79 resulted in injuries to two young girls, leading to a lawsuit against Caltrans concerning highway safety. John Elliott, owner of Descanso Trading Post, reviewed records and found no mention of parking; instead, they highlighted failures to protect pedestrians. “There is nothing in there about parking. It’s all about Caltrans not taking care of pedestrians in this area,” he stated.
Caltrans issued a statement defending its actions, explaining that the area was restriped for parallel parking in accordance with state traffic laws. The agency emphasized that parking on a state highway shoulder has always been prohibited except for emergency situations. “Throughout this process, Caltrans communicated with the community, business owners, and elected offices to explore and exhaust all options that improve safety,” the statement read.
Despite the official stance, community members have expressed a feeling of neglect. Landrum stated, “They’ve really turned their back on the community.” 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 2021 incident as a factor in the urgency for implementing safety measures, yet many locals remain unconvinced that the recent parking changes will enhance safety or benefit their businesses. As the community grapples with these adjustments, the future of local commerce along SR-79 hangs in the balance.
