County supervisors Tuesday are set to appoint a board member to the revived Mobility Partnership with the Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority to discuss options for highway expansion.
San Benito County’s transit agency, the Council of San Benito County Governments, signed on to revive the defunct Mobility Partnership, which previously involved a coalition of the region’s counties examining expansion of Highway 152 and Highway 25 at the Santa Clara County border, according to local officials.
The partnership is known for examining a possible toll road option for Highway 152, and that prospect remains on the table, according to the COG agenda from Sept. 17.
The renewed partnership will focus on the same issues, according to an agenda for Tuesday’s 9 a.m. meeting at the County Administration Building, 481 Fourth St. It is set to include two representatives from VTA, one from COG and one from San Benito County’s board.
At a recent COG meeting, Jerry Muenzer, that board’s chairman, appointed himself to the Mobility Partnership to represent the transit agency. That upset Councilman Victor Gomez because he pointed out that there will be two county supervisors on the Mobility Partnership and no representatives from Hollister.
Gomez and Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez were in the minority on that vote. Joining Muenzer in approving his appointment were Supervisor Anthony Botelho and San Juan Bautista Councilman Tony Boch.
Gomez contended the vote should not have occurred because it wasn’t on the agenda. Instead, COG board members Sept. 17 were considering the memorandum of understanding for the Mobility Partnership.
The Mobility Partnership, which broke up three years ago, is perhaps most known for its examination of the potential for a toll road on Highway 152.
The partnership previously included the Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority, the Merced County Association of Governments, Madera County Transportation Authority and the Council of San Benito County Governments. The goal of the group was to help pay for improvements on Highway 152 from Highway 156 near Casa de Fruta to Highway 101 in Gilroy.
The VTA is set to provide administrative help and its board was set to consider the matter in early October, according to the agenda report.
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