Landowners raise more concerns at Hwy 25 project meeting

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Property owners along Hwy 25 are still at odds over proposed routes for the highway expansion project, voicing concerns over potential impacts to their farms and homes. 

They took the opportunity to express their views during a Nov. 20 project scoping meeting hosted by Caltrans at Paine’s Restaurant.

The deadline to provide comments on the project is 5 p.m. on Dec. 19. (See below for ways to submit comments.)

The meeting largely involved attendees visiting different tables that had large maps of the different segments of the project and speaking to Caltrans representatives. 

The project is intended to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion on the 10.2-mile stretch of Hwy 25 between San Felipe Road in Hollister and the Hwy 101/25 interchange.  

Though the Council of San Benito County Governments (COG) and Caltrans approved a new route in 2016, recent pushback by farmers and property owners near Hollister caused the agencies to take a step back and consider using the current route in its environmental studies.

The farmers and property owners opposing the adopted route mostly argued that the route would unnecessarily impact prime agricultural land and could even destroy their farms. 

However, other property owners have argued that expanding the current route would also impact their property. 

Everett Clark has attended several of the recent meetings related to the project and told BenitoLink he was disappointed that a new approach using the current route is being considered, because alternatives were already considered in the early 2000s and the preferred route was adopted nearly a decade ago.

“I will say it’s disheartening to find out that some of the people that were present at those meetings in the early 2000s are now [against the adopted route],” he said. 

Clark said he understood many of the people who oppose the adopted route are the “backbone” of the county’s agricultural industry, but reiterated the alternatives were already vetted. 

“Now we’re starting from square one,” he said.

Clark said he has property about a quarter mile south of the Hwy 25/156 roundabout that would be impacted if the existing route is selected. 

Caltrans is now considering nine project alternatives, including the two new options of using the existing route for either a four-lane conventional highway or a four-lane expressway on the segment between San Felipe Road and Hudner Lane. 

Other options using the adopted route include a four-lane expressway, a three-lane expressway with a reversible lane, a two-lane expressway with a bus-on-shoulder system and a two-lane busway only. Other options include a one-lane busway adjacent to the rail line and a new passenger rail service. 

Romana Costa with Costa Farms said her main concern is that the adopted route goes too far into her property near Grant Line Road.

“It should be half and half,” she said.

She added the project should have been completed 10 years ago.

According to the project schedule, it is projected that the environmental report will be approved in the spring of 2028, the design and permits in winter 2030 and construction to begin in summer 2031.

Funding

While no official cost estimates have been disclosed, San Benito County’s portion of the Hwy 25 expansion project will be initially funded by revenue from Measure G, a 30-year, 1% sales tax that was approved by voters in 2018. 

COG estimated Measure G would raise about $242 million during that span for the Hwy 25 project. 

Santa Clara County is also using its own measure to fund its portion of the project. Both jurisdictions are also expected to pursue additional state funding. 

Measure G is also expected to raise about $216 million for local roads and about $27 million for other mobility-related projects.

According to COG’s 2024-25 Measure G report, the tax has raised $75 million since it began collecting revenues in 2019. It raised $13.4 million last fiscal year, with about $13.3 million allocated to the Hwy 25 project and the rest toward administration costs. 

The measure’s revenues so far are double what was estimated when it was approved by the voters. 

Last fiscal year was the beginning of a 10-year period in which funds will primarily be allocated to the highway project after the initial funds were distributed to San Juan Bautista, Hollister and San Benito County for local projects. This was part of COG’s funding strategy approved by the board in 2020, according to the report. 

Public Comment

Submit comments online here.

Submit comments by mail to:

Dianna Beck, Senior Environmental Planner

California Department of Transportation, District 5

50 Higuera Street

San Luis Obispo, California 93401

Email: Dianna.Beck@dot.ca.gov 

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