San Juan Bautista
– The San Juan Bautista City Council will recommend that the San
Benito County Council of Governments examine the possibility of a
regional solution to the problem of east-west traffic on Highway
156 rather than Caltrans’ plans to turn the overburdened road into
a four-lane highway.
San Juan Bautista – The San Juan Bautista City Council will recommend that the San Benito County Council of Governments examine the possibility of a regional solution to the problem of east-west traffic on Highway 156 rather than Caltrans’ plans to turn the overburdened road into a four-lane highway.
The decision was made at a special meeting Wednesday night to write up a proposal in time for the next COG meeting later this month.
“I think that COG has a clearer understanding of San Juan’s position now,” City Manager Jan McClintock said. “It’s not that we don’t want improvements to be made to the 156; it’s that we don’t want it to turn into a bigger freeway than (Interstate 5).”
Since Caltrans announced its intent to widen Highway 156 into a four-lane highway last year, many San Juan residents have voiced fears that the pollution and additional traffic such a project would invite could forever mar the area’s value as a prime agricultural region and quaint tourist destination.
“The commercial trucks don’t stop and spend money in the county. They don’t even eat at McDonalds,” McClintock said. “They just whizz through.”
The subcommittees formed by COG and the city to address the issue met last week to discuss potential solutions that will keep San Juan residents happy.
“We want to work with Santa Clara, Merced, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties to come up with a regional solution,” said McClintock.
The most popular alternative among opponents of the Highway 156 widening project seems to be the “3-in-1” proposal, a new four or six-lane highway that would connect the Don Pacheco Y intersection to Highway 101 near the San Benito/Santa Clara County Line. The project isn’t cheap – it could potentially cost more than $1 billion – but many residents consider it a permanent solution to the county’s traffic congestion problem as opposed to what they feel is a “Band-Aid” approach with the Highway 156 proposal.
San Juan also made clear that the city desires safety improvements to the stretch of Highway 156 between Hollister and the mission city, along the lines of those made to Highway 25.
The city is finalizing its written recommendations and will present them to the full COG on the 27th.
“I think we’ve had some real positive discussion, and everybody is bringing up some good points,” said Hollister City Councilman Brad Pike, who is on the San Juan COG subcommittee. “We just have to see what happens at the next COG meeting.”
Writing a proposal is only the first step, however. In the near future, officials must meet with leaders from the surrounding counties, and Caltrans has to get on board as well.
“We just want a regional approach to solving regional transportation issues, without letting California’s transportation needs fall on the backs of the San Juan Valley and Hollister,” McClintock said.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or ds****@fr***********.com.
