A loyal Red Phone informant wondered this week how trusty citizens on the roads will know whether to stop at an intersection where the formerly bright red stop sign is faded, the letters barely visible.
The danger spot is at the intersection of Westside Boulevard and Karen Court, she reports, and our curious caller asked why the sign hadn’t been replaced yet, considering all the vehicles that just drive on through as if they hadn’t noticed the eight-sided, metallic object that traditionally signals a halting motion.
As a general subverter of potential chaos in Hollister, the Red Knight has some more compelling questions about this case.
For instance, while our curious caller expressed concern about safety in the area and focused her attention on drivers who miss the sign altogether, the caped crusader wonders about the innocent residents who merely misread the words and perform other, irrelevant actions. The list of possibilities is endless, and it only starts with “Stomp.”
Hollister Street Supervisor Ray Rojas worries, too. Maybe not as much about our hero’s unusual concerns. But when there’s a sign out there in Hollister that’s battered or worn, Rojas said city street division workers respond and get the problems fixed. He said they’ll come right on out when citizens call in to complain.
While crews routinely address damaged signs as they’re reported, Rojas also noted how the city in the past five years has undergone a comprehensive replacement of street-name signs – he touted their “diamond grade” – and they’re almost finished with all of them.
Stop signs, he pointed out, are more expensive to replace. The city has started a broader replacement of those as well – mostly on congested roads. But with higher costs, it’s been a slower progression, he said.
