Downtown Hollister might get its lane makeover before Christmas, after all.
Council members at a special meeting Monday approved spending $124,000 on a lane reconfiguration for downtown. The work, to the dismay of some downtown business owners, will likely occur during the heart of holiday shopping season.
City public works official relayed to council members Monday he expected the slurry seal portion of the work—which would not include repaving—to start in five to 10 days. The contractor, VSS International out of West Sacramento, is expected to do the slurry seal in a day and then return about two weeks later to restripe the road, Rubcic said.
The precise timing of the work is weather permitting, while Mayor Ignacio Velazquez openly questioned whether there could be any sort of positive impact for businesses during the holidays, due to curious shoppers coming to look at the new look of downtown. That’s because with the two-week lag between the seal and striping, it might not even be done until after Christmas or days before.
“Is there really a benefit to doing it before the new year?” Velazquez said.
Local resident Marty Richman spoke during public comment and said he was “lost” because the potential window for the contractor to do the work remained unclear.
“I’m lost,” he said. “I’m sitting here and I’m lost and if I’m a business owner, I’d be super lost.”
Richman wondered what the earliest possible day was to start the work. He said businesses and motorists deserve to know so they can plan.
“The latest possible date is, God knows when,” he said.
City staff officials ensured council members they would adequately inform affected businesses.
They are progressing on the plans to reduce the downtown’s four lanes to two between Third and Hawkins streets while installing turn pockets at intersections that don’t already have them. Business and city interests had considered other ideas such as a concept—introduced by consultant TJKM in the corridor study—which would have involved diagonally backing vehicles into parking spots.
It is moving forward now because hired consultant TJKM recently submitted the layout design, and the city hosted a workshop for residents or businesses wanting information on the project before requesting construction bids.
There was support and some backlash, particularly regarding timing of planned work that could occur in late November or early December in the heart of shopping season. Delaying the work further, though, means the city would risk having to deal head on with the rainy season generally lasting until April or so.
