Transportation officials in the region are working out a
contract that would refine a direction for the Highway 152 bypass
project, and they expect to have an agreement finished within six
months.
Transportation officials in the region are working out a contract that would refine a direction for the Highway 152 bypass project, and they expect to have an agreement finished within six months.
Valley Transportation Authority consultant and former official Mike Evanhoe addressed San Benito County supervisors about the project at their meeting Tuesday. His update touched on the memorandum of understanding that’s in the works – on which officials are largely quiet – and the pursuit of state and federal funds to keep the $250 million-plus project progressing.
VTA’s currently trying to obtain a $5 million match from the state to fund its environmental documentation and preliminary design phases – the next part of the process.
He also reiterated that the VTA intends to honor its commitment to keep San Benito County taxpayers from having to pay toward the project.
“We do not expect the County of San Benito to contribute funds,” said Evanhoe, adding later, “The alignments are going to impact your county.”
The project is intended to ease the traffic congestion along the Pacheco Pass and move truck traffic off other area highways. The route options in place now, in the meantime, are “very preliminary,” said Lisa Rheinheimer, executive director of the Council of San Benito County Governments, the joint-governmental agency overseeing transportation projects here. Still, San Benito County supervisors already have approved an official preference for the northernmost route.
Even a current timeline is flimsy to a certain extent, scheduling that should be narrowed as the environmental study portion moves forward, she said.
“Everything is on the table, but nothing is on the table,” Rheinheimer said.
With a fourth alternative recently requested by San Benito County officials, the VTA expects to narrow those options to three routes in the near future, Evanhoe told the board.
VTA officials also plan to coordinate formation of an advisory panel made up of officials from area counties. Evanhoe said Santa Clara County’s transportation agency already had met with leaders in Merced and Madera counties along the corridor’s path.
Looking ahead at the $215 million to $389 million construction cost, Rheinheimer pointed to the highway’s broad regional impact as a reason she’s confident the project will be competitive for a combination of state, federal and VTA funds.
“It is a major interregional corridor,” she said.
