New City of Chino Hills Statement on CalTrans' Proposed "Improvements" to Carbon Canyon Road

This just in from the City of Chino Hills regarding the proposed "improvements" by CalTrans to Carbon Canyon Road (State Route 142):

 

The City of Chino Hills remains firmly opposed to and is prepared to challenge any decision made by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) that would allow large truck traffic to return to State Route 142 (SR-142) and the “S-Curves” on Carbon Canyon Road. Statements made by Caltrans during a June 10 public hearing indicated the agency intends to remove current truck restrictions, regardless of whether roadway safety improvements such as widening of the “S-Curves” are made or not. For more than seven years, the City worked alongside residents, community members, regional partners, and legislative representatives to address the significant safety concerns posed by large truck traffic of vehicles over four axles along Carbon Canyon Road. Those efforts resulted in truck restrictions that took effect in May 2024, which protect public safety and enhance the quality of life for residents. The City remains committed to ensuring those protections remain in place permanently. Caltrans is accepting public comments on the project through June 17, 2026. Residents are encouraged to submit comments to be considered as part of the environmental review process by email at D8.1M780.Comments@dot.ca.gov. The City has requested that Caltrans conduct a follow-up public meeting in person to provide additional opportunities for community engagement. To learn more about about this topic and its history, the June 10 Public Hearing, and how to submit public comments to Caltrans, visit  www.chinohills.org/CarbonCanyon. The City remains committed to advocating for the safety of our community and will continue to provide information related to the project through this website page as it becomes available. View All News

 

Carbon Canyon Road S-Curve Zoom Meeting Summary

Last night, CalTrans District 8, which covers the San Bernardino County portion of Carbon Canyon belatedly held a public Zoom meeting to discuss the project to "improve" the S-curves on Carbon Canyon Road, which is California Highway 142, with around 100 concerned residents gathered at the McCoy Equestrian Center Barn for the gathering.  The confab included a relatively brief, pro-forma recitation by CT officials of an overview, background and timeline of the proposed project, which could take up to four years to complete including environmental review, design and construction, while public comment is taking place this month and in July.

As with other projects like this, there are the build and no-build alternatives, but the claim is that the work to widen the S-curves and install retaining walls and other elements is to improve safety, even as the completion of the project would allow more volume because it was made abundantly clear that the ban of trucks of 5 axles or more, implemented a couple of years ago, with several years of concerted action from the cities of Brea and Chino Hills, would almost certainly be rescinded either way, meaning whether the "improvement" was made or not.

Also striking was the reiteration on several occasions by a CT official that this project came about because of public concerns of trucks crossing the centerline striping at the S-curves and so the claim was that this effort to widen the roadway and other aspects was the only real response the agency could make.  The obvious problem with this from the standpoint of those who spoke during the Q&A, considered informal so not recorded for the public record, and the oral comment portion, which was formalized and recorded, is that this was not the reason for the concerns.  

It should be noted that none of the dozens of persons who asked questions or spoke during the meeting, including a former Chino Hills councilmember and mayor, the current mayor and a city official, voiced support for the project.  So, if CT's contentions about concerns from the public were that this project was warranted, why did the public who expressed current concerns agree en masse that this is not what was intended when complaints were registered with the department?

Another remark by a CT official that raised eyebrows was the statement that the project was not intended to add more trucks to traffic on the state highway, but to more broadly improve traffic flow.  As many speakers pointed out, as often as accidents occur at the S-curves—a property owner with expensive cast-iron fencing and walls has, yet again, had these plowed into by a car within the last couple of weeks, and a section at Carriage Hills Lane has been the site of many crashes that have caused power outages throughout the Canyon—the way this section is constructed actually serves to slow most traffic down.  Yet, CT has insisted on adding so many signs, in the belief that this will somehow deter dangerous driving, when only enforcement can mitigate this, that it is almost comical to see how cluttered the roadway has become, yet the behavior continues.

It was also remarked that, while this work may be viewed by the agency as necessary and effective, the isolation of the S-curves from the rest of the state highway seems more than self-defeating.  For example, there are curves in Sleepy Hollow, principally at the east entrance to Rosemary Lane, where trucks routinely cross the centerline and have, in fact, swipes mailboxes and vehicles, while others routinely honk their horns as a warning, but with very limited sight lines.  There is no way to remediate the highway in that location and this is true at another curve to the west under which Carbon Creek passes, while sections in Brea may well involve the same general issues.

Other questions and comments concerned the absolute bare minimum of public notice, the inadequacy of holding a Zoom meeting so that an in-person gathering was requested, the fact that the documents so far prepared were insufficient, the call for a permanent ban on trucks—which CT personnel said would involve the cities going through a similar process to the current one (meaning years of struggle), and more.  One commenters wanted to know who was behind this project in terms of either the complaints registered that led to the interpretation that this work was the best response or who may be lobbying (a common perception is that Amazon, readying to establish a distribution center just outside the canyon on the 142 [the Valencia Avenue portion] in Brea, is behind this) for the work.

Perhaps the most remarkable claim from CT officials was that the ban instituted in the last couple of years was temporary and was always intended to be so.  While City of Chino Hills officials were clear in saying that this was not the case, the response from the department was that it was in the agreement signed by Chino Hills and Brea.  The obvious question is:  what will be the future communications between the municipalities and Cal Trans about this vital issue?

There will, of course, be more to come, but the salient matter right now is for those concerned about this project—and nothing said by CT staff alleviated any concerns, from what this observer heard and saw—this is the time to comment, during this and next month.  There is also the Hope for the Hills campaign against the project

Chino Hills Historical Society Presentation This Monday: Before Chino Hills State Park

This Monday the 8th at 7 p.m., at the Chino Hills Community Center, 14250 Peyton Drive, across from Ayala High School, the Chino Hills Historical Society hosts a presentation on some history of the area that became Chino Hills State Park, as well as some of the park's history.

If you've been in this amazing local resource and wondered how Rolling M Ranch, the park's headquarters and where there is a great campground, or Telegraph Canyon got their names, you can learn that by attending the talk.

San Bernardino Guardian, 20 September 1873.

If you didn't know that an international airport was proposed for much of the parkland, come on by and hear more about that, as well.

Paul Spitzzeri will discuss some of what the land was used for prior to its preservation and Hills for Everyone President Claire Schlotterbeck, who was deeply involved in the movement for the establishment of the Park, will share some of that story, as well.

Chino Champion, 20 October 1971.

We hope to see you there!

City of Chino Hills Statement on Proposed Carbon Canyon Road (SR 142) Summit Widening

 This just in from the City of Chino Hills--note that there is a page on the City's website on this issue.

Carbon Canyon Road S-Curve Widening Zoom Mtg on 10 June

A virtual public meeting set up by CalTrans District 8 for the "State Route 142 S-Curve Project," proposing widening at this section along the summit on Carbon Canyon Road in Chino Hills and which would, many are concerned, allow for the rescinding of the large truck ban just recently enacted, has been scheduled on Zoom for Wednesday, 10 June at 5:30 p.m.

You can request to register by contacting: e&pengagement@icf.com.

For anyone living in Carbon Canyon or who regularly uses the state highway, this is a very important part of public input, so please consider joining and expressing concerns because there is no question that this project will be especially invasive if it involved allowing larger trucks again.  This road should not be used as a large truck route, but one wonders if there is pressure to make it one no matter how detrimental it would be to our communities in Brea and Chino Hills, as well as to the Canyon.

If there is such a plan, what is obviously needed is a coordinated response like Hope for the Hills undertook to fight back against the Southern California Edison TRTP transmission lines some 15 years ago.  That movement was successful and it would take the same type of effort to push back against what might be unreasonable and unwarranted project that serves narrow, though deep pocketed, interests at the expense of broader community concerns.

This post was edited following a comment on the Chronicle Facebook page rightly calling for attention to the facts—we would add, as we know them now, pending further revelations.  In the meantime, the CEQA Initial Study may be worth reviewing before the meeting on the 10th.

And, just found this Chino Valley Champion article, as well, note the statement by a CalTrans spokesperson that the ban may be rescinded once the widening project is complete

Chino Hills Historical Society Presentation: Before Chino Hills State Park

On Monday, 8 June at 7 p.m. at the Chino Hills Community Center at 14250 Peyton Drive across from Ayala High School, the Chino Hills Historical Society presents a free talk on the some history of the area that became Chino Hills State Park.  

The discussion will include uses of the land by ranchers like Fenton Slaughter, Frank Pellissier and Christopher Hendra and his Rolling M Ranch, while Claire Schlotterbeck, president of Hills for Everyone and a key figure in the preservation of the property in the face of a proposed airport that led to its purchase and creation as a state park, will discuss how that all came together and its ongoing history.

We hope to see you there!

Grand Fire Burning Near Tres Hermanos Ranch in Chino Hills

Breaking out about an hour ago, the Grand Fire, consuming about 20 acres, is burning on both sides of Grand Avenue, west of Grand Avenue Park and in the vicinity of Tres Hermanos Ranch.  Mapping looks to show the fire mostly on the north side of the thoroughfare and heading northeast through some hills towards some Chino Hills residences accessed from Chino Hills Parkway north of Grand.

Some of the flames look to have been on the south side of Grand, but whether the spread is of any significant there, as opposed to the other side of the road, is not clear.  Incident command stated about 40 minutes ago that "the fire poses an imminent threat to structures and has a potential for 100 to 200 acres."  We'll provide updates as they are released.

UPDATE, 8:37 P.M.  The Grand Fire is now about 30 acres and, some 25 minutes or so ago, Level 3 evacuation orders were issued for 4 streets west of Chino Hills Parkway, north of Grand Avenue.  Chino Hills Parkway is closed at Falling Star and Country Walk lanes.  An evacuation center is in place at the Chino Hills Community Center, 14250 Peyton Drive.

UPDATE, 9:10 P.M.  Another 9 streets in the affected area are under a Level 2 evacuation within the last 20 or so minutes, while acreage remains about 30 acres.  A helitanker did water drops, but it and the other copters were released.

UPDATE, 10:20 P.M.  According to Chino Hills council member Peter Rogers, the Grand Fire was caused by a Tesla that overturned on Grand Avenue.  No further information to report on the blaze.

UPDATE, 10:22 P.M.  Spoke too soon!  Here is a just received notification from the City of Chino Hills:

GRAND FIRE UPDATE - EVACUATION ORDERS LIFTED As of Wednesday, May 13 at 10:00 pm, all EVACUATION ORDERS related to the Grand Fire have been lifted. The road closures at Chino Hills Parkway and Falling Star Lane, and Chino Hills Parkway and Country Walk are being reopened. Grand Avenue is closed from Grand Avenue Park to the City limit, and is expected to remain closed overnight. The fire is holding at approximately 30 acres with 0% containment. Crews are making good progress, with decreased fire activity due to cooler temperatures and increased humidity. Firefighters will continue operations through the night. The Emergency Evacuation Center located at the Chino Hills Community Center (14250 Peyton Drive) will remain open as needed to support displaced residents as they re-enter.  Thank you to the coordinated efforts from our first responders from Chino Valley Fire District, Chino Hills Police Department, City staff, and all partner agencies from outside of the area that supported the effort and a quick response. Thank you to our community for your patience and cooperation. This is the final update unless conditions change requiring further emergency action.