Truck-hauling wears on foothill residents

LA CRESCENTA — Dozens of foothill residents at a public meeting Wednesday night told officials that they were frustrated with what they said were careless dump truck drivers hauling dirt back-and-forth through their neighborhood.

From running stop signs to talking on their cell phones, residents who attended the meeting at the Center for Spiritual Living said they had witnessed multiple violations among the dozens of truck drivers hired by Los Angeles County to haul away dirt and mud from clogged debris catch basins.

“Sometimes they go through stop signs,” one resident said.

Mark Pestrella, assistant deputy director of Los Angeles County Public Works, assured residents that he and his staff would review their complaints.

Many of the truck drivers were hired on a contract, but he said the county still assumes responsibility.

Truck drivers with bad driving habits, he said, would be pulled off the job.

Other residents were worried about the truck route, which they said seemed to be centered on a few streets, including Dunsmore Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue and Markridge Road.

Pestrella told residents that he would post the truck route on the Public Works website today.