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Project Information

Caltrans has been working in partnership with the Council of San Benito County Governments (SBCOG) and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) since 2001 to reduce congestion and improve safety and operations on Route 25. Over time, with input from Caltrans’ partners and the public, this project has evolved.

As of mid-2007, the project proposed to widen 10.6 miles of Route 25 in San Benito and Santa Clara counties from the existing two-lane highway to a four-lane expressway. In late 2007, Caltrans proposed a route adoption for the nearly 11-mile stretch of highway from San Felipe Road in Hollister to Highway 101. A route adoption establishes and documents an exact alignment and location of the route in the San Benito County and Santa Clara County General Plans, allowing the public to know where the expressway would be built. As transportation funds become available, portions of the expressway can be constructed.

Two route adoption alternatives are proposed, Alternative 1 and Alternative 2. In addition, the project now proposes two build alternatives, Alternative A and Alternative B, which would propose constructing a 3.8-mile section of expressway extending northwest from the Hollister Bypass project (now under construction). This short stretch of expressway may be fully funded and built in the next few years.

The alignments of the two route adoption alternatives are roughly the same except for about 5 miles between San Felipe Road and a point south of the junction with Shore Road. Alternative 1 would veer the new four-lane highway east of the existing two-lane highway. Alternative 2 would veer the new four-lane highway west of the existing highway. Both alternatives would be the same between the bend in Route 25 (south of Shore Road) and the Santa Clara County project limit. Both route adoption alternatives would include:

• A 342-foot-wide four-lane expressway with a 62-foot median and frontage roads on one or both sides.
• An interchange to replace the Route 25/Route 156 at-grade intersection.
• A Route 25/Route 101 interchange to replace the existing interchange. The new interchange would be built north of the existing interchange.
• New bridges over Carnadero Creek and the Pajaro River.
• New bridges to cross over the Union Pacific Railroad Hollister branch line and the Union Pacific main line just east of U.S. 101.

The project also proposes two build alternatives: Alternative A and Alternative B. The build alternatives would run 3.8 miles in San Benito County, from San Felipe Road to just west of Hudner Lane. Alternative A would be constructed at the southeastern beginning of the Alternative 1 route adoption alignment. Alternative B would be constructed at the southeastern beginning of the Alternative 2 route adoption alignment. Both build alternatives would include:

• A four-lane limited access expressway.
• A realigned and widened at-grade intersection at Route 25 and Route 156 instead of an interchange.

Funding

Currently, this project is funded to complete the Preliminary Design and Environmental Analysis phase of the project development process. To date, $4.5 million is proposed from SBCOG in the 2008 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for the Design phase. Right of Way and Construction funding has not been proposed.

Newsletter

A newsletter with additional information will be published in Spring 2008.

Public Scoping Meeting

A public scoping meeting will be held in Hollister on Thursday, April 3, 2008, from 4:30-6:30 pm. The meeting location will be R. O. Hardin Elementary School, 881 Line Street, Hollister, in the Multi-purpose room. This will be an opportunity for members of the public to learn more about what is currently proposed and to make comments and suggestions related to the project before the draft environmental document is completed. This will be a drop-in event where Caltrans project members will be available to answer your questions and receive your input.

How to Contact Us

We welcome your comments and project-related questions. Please direct mail to:

Bobi Lyon-Ritter, Senior Environmental Planner, Sierra Pacific Environmental Analysis Branch
California Department of Transportation
2015 E. Shields Avenue, Suite 100
Fresno, CA 93726

Send e-mail to: bobi_lyon-ritter@dot.ca.gov.

If your group or organization is interested in scheduling a presentation to hear an update on this project, please contact the Project Manager, Richard Rosales at (805) 549- 3792 or send e-mail to: richard_rosales@dot.ca.gov.

All other comments can be sent to the Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs Office at (805) 549-3318 or send email to info-d5@dot.ca.gov.

Public Hearing

Upon completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report, expected in Fall 2008, the project team will hold a Public Hearing.

Schedule

Schedule
What	When
Newsletter Available	Spring 2008
Public Scoping Meeting	Spring 2008
Public Review of Draft Environmental Document	Fall 2008
Public Hearing	Fall 2008
Preferred Alternative Selected	Spring 2009
Publish Final Environmental Document	Fall/Winter 2009
Final Design and Specifications and Right of Way Acquisition	2009-2012
Begin Construction	2012