There may be some relief this month for both parking and traffic headaches around San Benito High School.The City of Hollister has agreed to create reverse-angle parking on both sides of Monterey Street in front of San Benito High School north to B Street, according to the latest San Benito High School District newsletter.
The spots will be marked on both sides of Monterey Street and will add spaces, “promote improved driver visibility and easier loading and unloading of vehicles, all while enhancing traffic-calming efforts,” according to district staff.
By creating the angled parking, the city is helping to reduce the double parking that occurs on both sides of the street, as well as relieving parking congestion in the surrounding neighborhood.
The concept of reverse-angle parking is new to Hollister, but it is not new across the country, as it is a staple in many communities, according to district staff.Hollister officials informed San Benito school officials that crews were to begin the parking space striping on Sept. 13.Key element of project include:
The city recently placed multiple “School Zone” and 25 mph signs along Nash, West and Monterey streets to help create a safer corridor around the campus, according to district staff. These measures, coupled with the new speed tables on Monterey and West streets, speed radars and the pending 7am to 7pm weekday closure of Nash Road once the bypass road south of campus is complete, are all designed to foster a safer environment around campus.
In addition to the safety measures already completed or underway, the district plans to conduct a traffic mitigation study at the West and B Street intersection once the Baler Alley Parking lot reopens, in order to determine whether that should become a four-way stop.
The closing of Nash Road during the school year could come later this year, depending on the status of construction by San Benito County of a new bypass road around the sprawling campus.
