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At a Sept. 3 meeting to obtain input on proposed safety measures for Hwy 25, residents raised concerns over the tentative timeline and their displeasure with Caltrans, saying the transportation agency is unresponsive.
Caltrans is looking to conduct three safety projects along the primary artery between Hollister and Santa Clara County.
The first is installing concrete median barriers between Hwy 101 and the Trical agricultural chemical facility near the county line.
The second is installing a roundabout at the Hwy 25/Shore Road intersection.
The third is installing channelizers in advance of crash cushions and replacing damaged crash cushions between the San Benito/Santa Clara county line to San Felipe Road. Caltrans would refresh the striping, reflective barrier markers and signage throughout the 11-mile stretch.
Residents who attended the meeting at Paine’s Restaurant in Hollister said that it shouldn’t take until 2029 to install barriers and signage, in response to the timeline presented by Caltrans to complete the projects. However, representatives said the timeline included the roundabout project and that the other elements such as the K-rails and signage could be done sooner.
Kathryn Kleinschmidt with Caltrans District 5 said the three projects were separate and would not affect each other’s timeline.
Some of the approximately 20 attendees also spoke against the roundabout, saying it affects commuters and that it’s hard for trailers to maneuver.
“There are consequences to what you think is helping,” one attendee said. “Roundabouts are not the answer.”
However, Caltrans Chief of External Affairs John Olejnik said that roundabouts are proven safety measures and that travel time is considered when the option is being analyzed.
Residents also asked if the barriers would limit farmers’ access to their land. Lester Lee with Caltrans District 4, which includes Santa Clara County, said median openings will be assessed during the analysis process. Olejnik added that the agency analyzes diversion impacts and that they attempt to provide safe routes to make turns.
The three projects are in the “Project Initiation Document” phase, in which the agency sets the scope of work. Once that gets approval from the California Transportation Commission, Caltrans will seek funding and work on environmental analyses.
The roundabout and two other safety implementations on Hwy 25 result from a safety assessment conducted by the state, which reviewed collision data collected between April 2019 and October 2024.
According to data collected by Caltrans, there have been 350 collisions on the route, between San Felipe Road and the Hwy 101 interchange. On the portion that lies within San Benito County, there were 26 collisions with severe injury, including 12 fatalities. On the portion that lies in Santa Clara County, there were 18 collisions with severe injury, including four fatalities. Rear-end crashes account for the majority of collisions, followed by broadsides.
Other issues attendees brought up at the meeting included how long Caltrans takes to respond to residents’ requests to clean areas of the highway, and a lack of response to residents’ requests to meet with officials to discuss their concerns about the project.
Farmer Joe Tonascia said he attempted several times to speak to Caltrans about the impact the turbo roundabout at the Hwy 25/156 intersection would have on his operation, noting that he didn’t get a response from a representative.
“I hope that changes,” he said.
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