A special joint meeting of the San Benito Board of Supervisors,
the Hollister City Council and the San Juan City Council was
convened Thursday to reopen a discussion on the Hwy. 156
improvement project, a proposed four-lane roadway through prime
agricultural land that would be south of the current highway.
– Melissa Flores
A special joint meeting of the San Benito Board of Supervisors, the Hollister City Council and the San Juan City Council was convened Thursday to reopen a discussion on the Hwy. 156 improvement project, a proposed four-lane roadway through prime agricultural land that would be south of the current highway.
Open to the public, the three-hour meeting was attended by nearly 60 residents and it started out on a contentious note.
“We got a report that I felt was incomplete,” Supervisor Anthony Botelho said of the project’s environmental impact report, which was presented to county supervisors in fall 2008. “We took a vote on something that we were not thoroughly clear on…From my perspective the project is poorly designed.”
Richard Rosales, the project manager for Caltrans District 5, put together animated renderings of the project from the point of view of a driver on the road as well as a bird’s-eye view of the east-west corridor.
“This meeting is not intended to make comments on the EIR,” said Lisa Rheinheimer, the executive director of the Council of Governments. “The comment period has already closed. Richard and the team prepared a video that will show what it looks like to drive on the roadways.”
At the end of the public comment period, each city council member and supervisor present took a few moments to offer their thoughts on the project. The Hollister City Council members present spoke in favor of it, while members of the San Juan City Council spoke against it; supervisors’ opinions were split.
“We understand safety is so important – it looks like everybody understands the need for some improvement on that road,” said Pauline Valdivia, a Hollister city councilwoman. “If Caltrans could at least look at traffic lights, and how to turn into different roads it looks like this project would be viable.”
Doug Emerson, a Hollister city councilman, spoke in favor of the project.
“I do understand concerns of agriculture and that safety is important, but I am a strong supporter,” Emerson said.
Reb Monaco, a supervisor, still had questions about the project.
“Based on what we saw today I am concerned about what it has morphed into,” Monaco said. “I am also concerned that we originally approved the smallest footprint and this doesn’t represent the smallest footprint possible.”
For the full story see the Pinnacle on Friday.
