Downtown Hollister just got more friendly toward pedestrians.
With the state in March handing over control of San Benito Street to the city, one of the first orders of business was installation of crosswalks at three key intersections. Government and business leaders for years have talked up the prospect of installing downtown crosswalks in order to encourage pedestrian traffic in the central business district and make conditions safer.
On Friday and Monday, city crews were at work tracing the crosswalks with stencils directing people across San Benito Street or cross streets. Previously, when Caltrans owned the road, the state agency followed its standard rule forbidding such crosswalks on highways, even a city route.
“They have a position that crosswalks create a false sense of security,” said David Rubcic, an engineering manager for the city.
Now that it’s a city right-of-way, however, Hollister officials can do what they want with the road, Rubcic said. Considering the existing commonality of pedestrians crossing where they choose, the crosswalks may actually improve safety conditions downtown, he surmised.
“I think it has the potential of being a little bit safer for the pedestrians,” Rubcic said, “but the pedestrians really do have to follow common sense.”
The engineering official suggested that people ensure they make eye contact with drivers if there is a question of whether to proceed across the road, though pedestrians do have the right-of-way if they step out into the crosswalk.
With more stoppages for drivers, the city might actually make another change as well, by potentially removing the lighted intersection at Fifth Street. Currently, there are signals at Third, Fourth and Fifth streets, with vehicles often having to stop at multiple lights on a trip through downtown.
At Monday’s city council meeting, officials are weighing the hiring of a traffic consultant for a traffic corridor study that could result in removing the Fifth Street lights and replacing them with stop signs.
Pedestrian-friendly moves have been encouraged by leaders such as Tony Ruiz, a Gavilan College trustee who has been actively supporting such changes to downtown for years.
Ruiz recalled times from the mid-20th century when downtown Hollister was a social gathering place.
“If you ever wanted to see anyone, a family member or friends, that was the place – main street,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz is part of a group of locals who meet and discuss ideas for “new urbanism” in the area.
“Studies show that when you fix up your downtown, people spend more time together,” he said. “If you’re part of your community, you’re going to be more active in your community.”
