The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is seeking funding for a $479 million improvement project of U.S. 101 between Gilroy and Hollister.
The project, estimated to take between four and six years from the design stage to the construction stage which is not yet scheduled, would include widening U.S. 101 to a six-lane freeway between Monterey Street and State Route 129 at the Chittenden Avenue exit and build an interchange that would connect State Route 25 with Santa Teresa Boulevard in Gilroy.
“There’s currently no design because we don’t have any money, so who knows if it will be a flyover or some overpass type design,” said VTA Spokesperson Colleen Valles.
Whether constructed by VTA or the by Caltrans, Valles said, the project would fill increasing demand for relief from freeway congestion that is expected to only get worse as the population increases. According to the VTA, congestion currently hinders the efficient movement of people and goods, and continued growth will only make traffic conditions worse.
“We do expect to see growth – not only in our region but across the whole state – so we want to be prepared for that,” Valles said. “The sooner we can get this built the better, and provide the most benefit to the most people.”
During a study of U.S. 101 and State Routes 152, 156 and 25, the VTA analyzed current traffic congestion and postulated which improvements would help in the long haul.
“Continued growth in inter-regional traffic, as well as growth in regional and local population and jobs, will result in increased travel demand and increasing congestion,” reads the report.
The study showed that the proposed improvements, including the widening of U.S. 101 to a six-lane freeway and the addition of a connector between State Route 25 and Santa Teresa Boulevard, alleviated congestion during the peak hour of 6:30 p.m.
Unimproved sections of State Route 25 would remain highly congested, according to the report. The study shows that any improvement scenario would be better than “doing nothing,” because by 2030 congestion on state highways in southern Santa Clara County and northern San Benito County during peak afternoon hours is expected to be “widespread.”
The VTA will move onto the design phase of the proposed project only when funding is secured, Valles noted.
