New parking restrictions along State Route 79 in Descanso, California, have sparked significant backlash from local business owners. After months of community concerns, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) implemented changes that have already led to a noticeable decline in customer traffic.
Business owners are reporting immediate negative impacts. “Definitely affecting business. People drive up and see all this and they just kind of keep on going,” stated Brett Cooker, owner of Descanso Junction Restaurant. Just days into the new parking regulations, Barby Wohlrabe, owner of Heirlooms Goods and Gifts, noted that “sales have plummeted with the tourists.”
The parking adjustments have transformed the area considerably. Newly installed “no parking” signs line the road, with the Descanso Trading Post losing four parking spots, leaving just two available. Similarly, Descanso Junction Restaurant retains only six spots out of a previous total of 27.
In August, the project faced a temporary halt following intervention from Senator Brian Jones, but on August 25, local businesses received only one week’s notice regarding the impending changes. Many residents express confusion over the rationale behind Caltrans’ decision. “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 expressed frustration over the process, recalling her attempts to advocate for traffic calming measures. She filed a service request in 2020, but it took until 2023 for Caltrans to respond, stating that based on traffic collision records, no additional signs were warranted. “Two years later, this is what you get,” Landrum remarked.
The changes come in the wake of a serious accident in 2021 that injured two young girls, leading to a lawsuit against Caltrans regarding safety conditions on the highway. John Elliott, owner of Descanso Trading Post, emphasized that the files he reviewed revealed no mention of parking issues, focusing instead on pedestrian safety concerns.
In response to the community’s complaints, Caltrans released a statement clarifying their position. “Caltrans recently restriped the area in front of the Descanso junction businesses to parallel parking in accordance with state traffic laws,” the agency noted. They specified that parking on a state highway shoulder has never been permitted except in emergencies.
Caltrans asserted that they engaged with local stakeholders, including community members and elected officials, to explore all options aimed at enhancing safety while minimizing impacts on local businesses. They also emphasized their efforts to preserve as much parking as possible.
Despite these assurances, many community members feel abandoned by Caltrans. “They’ve really turned their back on the community,” Landrum said. 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 accident and the urgency for safety measures as a contributing factor to the recent parking changes. The ongoing conversation between the agency and community members continues, as local businesses grapple with the immediate fallout from the new regulations.
