While we can sympathize with some residents of San Juan Bautista
and a few of their concerns over the proposed expansion of Highway
156, we have to look at the big picture.
Traffic will continue to escalate
– and so will congestion and deadly accidents if Highway 156 is
not improved and expanded to four lanes.
The cost of a small amount of farmland and some construction
headaches is a small price to pay to avoid future gridlock and
worsening highway safety conditions.
While we can sympathize with some residents of San Juan Bautista and a few of their concerns over the proposed expansion of Highway 156, we have to look at the big picture.
Traffic will continue to escalate – and so will congestion and deadly accidents if Highway 156 is not improved and expanded to four lanes.
The cost of a small amount of farmland and some construction headaches is a small price to pay to avoid future gridlock and worsening highway safety conditions.
We agree with Council of San Benito County Governments Director Richard Scagliotti when he points to Highway 25, where more than 20 deaths have occurred since 2000.
Let’s not repeat that mistake.
There is no reason to let Highway 156 follow suit and endanger the lives of our current and future travelers on that key stretch of road that dissects San Benito County.
We also fail to see how San Juan Bautista will suffer long-term harm from improving a road that it depends on for hopefully increasing tourist traffic.
At last week’s COG meeting, one San Juan resident pointed to world hunger as a reason to oppose the expansion. Again, the percentage of farmland involved is small compared to the benefits.
Another pointed to the Southern California mission town of San Juan Capistrano as “ruined” by highway expansion.
This is apples and oranges in many areas of comparison and we hardly see that beautiful and viable tourist destination as marred by bigger and better roads to get to and from it.
City Manager Larry Cain said the widening would destroy the way of life in San Juan Bautista, which is surely a stretch.
What about the economic benefits of attracting more and more visitors with a safe corridor to and from San Juan?
We feel a wider and proportionally safer Highway 156 will benefit county residents – both commuters and regular road travelers – and their families, along with the much desired tourist traffic, both incoming and outgoing.
Highway 156 is a key road for the future success and safety of San Benito County.
Let’s keep plans to widen it rolling along and not get derailed by some small-town and short-term thinking.
The future is now for safe and sufficient roadways. Â
