Caltrans should study roundabouts as alternative on Hwy. 156
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors and Hollister City
Council have joined a growing sentiment in favor of studying the
use of roundabouts on Highway 156 to prevent overbuilding of the
new roadway, and their entry into the debate should help to
influence a state agency already willing to consider the idea.
Caltrans should study roundabouts as alternative on Hwy. 156
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors and Hollister City Council have joined a growing sentiment in favor of studying the use of roundabouts on Highway 156 to prevent overbuilding of the new roadway, and their entry into the debate should help to influence a state agency already willing to consider the idea.
In recent weeks, the board of supervisors and council adopted resolutions supporting the concept, which a group of concerned residents cleverly devised in recent months as an alternative to the often-contentious proposal to turn Highway 156 into a behemoth with lighted intersections and potential to poison the landscape aesthetics and charming feel to the stretch of San Benito County.
At this point, it really is a no-lose situation for local politicians in at least urging Caltrans to get on board in studying the idea. Supervisors and council members unanimously supported the resolutions, a good sign that there might be a growing consensus in favor of the concept.
The use of roundabouts on the highway between San Juan and Hollister – those who put it together envisioned three of them – would serve to offer a compromise between two sides that didn’t appear ready for compromise anytime soon. One side wanted the highway to be plastered right through the historic Mission City of San Juan, while residents of the town were intent on keeping things status quo.
The roundabouts offer an opportunity to preserve as much agricultural land as possible while working to prevent the type of gridlock that locals so fear, but they still could serve to achieve the easing of traffic congestion that state transportation officials insist is necessary.
And besides the benefits exclusive to San Benito County, there are other positive impacts from use of roundabouts in other areas where their use is growing, such as Southern California or Europe.
With less land and necessary infrastructure, the state could experience major cost savings with the alternative. They are better for vehicles, especially larger trucks that absorb wear and tear from starting and stopping so much. And they can be better for the environment as well with fewer pollutants released while vehicles are idle. Most important, the traffic tool has proven itself as safe and easy to use.
For a highway where fatalities and serious injuries are all too common, that is enough reason along to explore the idea.
