Local government and business leaders should be putting top-down pressure on Caltrans bureaucrats to quit the bullying and allow an encroachment permit for Walgreens to build a new sewer line under Tres Pinos Road.
Caltrans is putting up a curious stink over the developer, Hawkins Companies, and its efforts to place a line under the roadway. That road is currently owned by the state, but Caltrans has an agreement in place to hand over the road’s jurisdiction to the city as part of the bypass transfer.
Caltrans is showing a senseless stubbornness on two ends. For one, there has been no explanation to city officials, or to the public, as to why Caltrans objects to the sewer line. City officials insist there has been resistance in talks, though a Caltrans spokeswoman merely commented that the review period hasn’t been completed. There must be a reason, right? Even though the state agency is isolated from Hollister’s economic woes – and may not realize the needed boost from developing a new Walgreens – it can’t possibly be objecting to the lines to merely flaunt its authority, right? The only plausible explanation is that perhaps Caltrans isn’t all that proud of its own reasoning and that is why the agency officials have kept it to themselves.
The state’s stance has left Hollister’s head planning official, Bill Avera, perplexed enough to conclude that sometimes Caltrans just decides it doesn’t want work done on certain roads, and that’s that.
Seriously? It doesn’t seem possible, but Avera – who is well versed with Caltrans’ ways – has concluded just that.
Even more astounding is the fact that Caltrans knows it is a formality that Hollister will soon own Tres Pinos Road and the state will get the bypass.
Considering the travesty that is occurring – because city officials seem to have reluctantly accepted the state’s position – there is a need for government and business officials to come together, to unite in the cause against Caltrans’ opposition.
Public and private sector officials did it before, when they sent a message to the state about the new courthouse’s location, and the need to have it built downtown. Though the timing of Walgreens obviously carries a smaller-scale impact than the courthouse, they should do it again and make it clear to the state that we won’t put up with such thoughtless decisions that could hamper our economy.
