San Benito County roads will be more crowded by 2035 – and not just because of population growth.
San Benito County supervisors on Tuesday agreed to change language in the general plan revision that will require a minimum level of service for county roads of D rather than the current level of service C. The level of service for streets ranges from A, which is free-flowing with no delays, to F, which has forced traffic flow, where speed and flow may drop to zero with high densities.
Right now, the county roads are held to level C, the standard for rural counties, according to Public Works Director Steve Wittry. Planning director Gary Armstrong said the standard for urban areas is level D, and the general plan covers San Benito through 2035 when it will be a much more urban place.
Level C is described as “stable traffic flow, with less freedom to select speed, change lanes or pass. Some delay may be experienced.” Level D is described as “a traffic stream that is approaching unstable flow, with reduced speed and maneuverability.” The level of service is not related to the conditions of the road, but to the flow of traffic.
Wittry submitted a letter to Armstrong on Aug. 3 that stated his position on the change and also spoke at Tuesday’s meeting.
“The areas where the change of LOS would have an effect on LOS were at intersections where the improvements largely consist of signalization,” Wittry said, in the letter that cites the Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee Study from 2011. “There are many factors that can contribute to the requirements for intersection improvements, and because those costs are relatively minor, those costs were included in the (impact study) and the LOS of C was recommended and reaffirmed by the Board.”
Wittry said it is difficult to raise the level of service once it has been lowered. He urged the supervisors to maintain level of service C, especially since the traffic impact fees were set at a rate to support level C roadways.
Supervisors Margie Barrios, Robert Rivas and Jaime De La Cruz voted to lower the level of service to D and make amendments to the general plan draft, which has not yet been released to the public. Supervisors Jerry Muenzer and Anthony Botelho voted against the change. Several members of the public voted in favor of lowering the level of service to D, including representatives from L&G law firm.
