The public is invited to comment through Feb. 8. on the proposed
installation of four call boxes along 20 miles of Panoche Road in
south San Benito County.
The public is invited to comment through Feb. 8. on the proposed installation of four call boxes along 20 miles of Panoche Road in south San Benito County.
The county’s Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways is proposing installing the boxes along the rural road that has limited to no cellular coverage. The call boxes would provide motorists in need with a direct link to the California Highway Patrol in case of an emergency.
Public input is sought on a proposed negative declaration, which means the county believes the project will not have a significant effect on the environment. The call boxes are proposed within the county’s roadway right-of-way along land mostly used for grazing.
There are 36 call boxes in use in San Benito County, including eight on Highway 25 north of Hollister, four on the highway south of Hollister, one along Highway 146, six along Highway 101 and 17 along Highway 156.
During the first quarter of fiscal year 2010-11, the California Highway Patrol reported receiving a total of 55 calls on local call boxes, including six on Highway 25, nine on Highway 101 and 31 along Highway 156. Thirty four calls were made on emergency call boxes in the second quarter reporting period.
During the four-quarter 2009-10 fiscal year, 160 calls were made on local call boxes.
The Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways receives approximately $53,000 annually in vehicle registration fees to maintain the call boxes in San Benito County. A $1 per registered vehicle fee is collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles to fund the program, which costs roughly $23,000 per year.
A copy of the proposed negative declaration is available online at www.sanbenitocog.org and written comments can be sent to Veronica Lezama, c/o San Benito County Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways, 330 Tres Pinos Rd., Suite C-7 in Hollister, 95023.
For questions, call Lezama at 637-7665 or e-mail [email protected].
