San Benito County Transportation Digest

The Highway 25 curve alignment, located 32 miles south of Hollister, is on schedule to be completed in late spring, and the combined cost of the original, failed project and its restoration has come to $14.2 million.

The numbers and letters on your car can reveal more than you think.

Caltrans has set a Jan. 25 deadline for tech companies to show how generative artificial intelligence might reduce traffic congestion in the state. This follows an executive order that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September related to this type of AI.

Heavy snow is projected in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Previously, warmer storms had been bringing precipitation mainly to higher elevations in the Sierras.

San Francisco police officers have been operating for more than a year with guidance from their chief that California’s vehicle code doesn’t provide authority for them to ticket driverless cars for infractions like speeding or running red lights. Officers are still encouraged to report relevant information about incidents.

BenitoLink looks ahead to construction projects in the county that are expected to begin or be completed in 2024.

Farmland is being rezoned for industrial use, and massive warehouses are being built on spec near communities like Buttonwillow and Shafter, so goods coming through the Southern California ports can be shipped quickly throughout the western United States.

A group of protesters sat down with interlocked arms on the 110 Freeway near downtown LA on Dec. 13, halting southbound traffic for more than an hour. Multiple people were arrested according to the CHP.

Higher-income workers are more likely to work from home, analysis of recent census data shows. Lower-income workers can face long and solitary commutes to get to work.

U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren announced Dec. 8 that the Department of Transportation will distribute $1,080,000 to the city of Hollister for a comprehensive roadway safety action plan.

Private company Brightline secured a $3 billion grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation toward a 218-mile high-speed rail line from Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas. The line would allow people to make the trip to Sin City in a little over two hours.

An Alameda County judge ruled on Nov. 22 that the city of Oakland thwarted a proposed coal export terminal. The judge will rule if the developer who sued is entitled to $159 million in damages or moving forward with the project.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles changed its voter registration process in 2019 to put a party selection dropdown on the same page. Since then, the number of people registering as Republicans or Democrats has jumped close to 20 points.

The Orange County Transportation Authority announced that work has been completed for express lanes along 16 miles of Interstate 405. The lanes, which were part of a $2.16 billion improvement project, span from Costa Mesa to the Los Angeles County line.

A new study by Forbes shows that four cities in the Golden State—Los Angeles, Fresno, San Diego and Sacramento—are among the 21 worst cities in the United States for holiday travel. Forbes looked at a variety of factors including car accidents, hotel prices and air travel.

Interstate 10 in Los Angeles will reopen Nov. 21, following a fire on Nov. 11. It had previously been feared the freeway would be closed much longer.

The Wildlife Conservation Board is scheduled to consider providing $5.6 million for a wildlife crossing near the San Benito-Monterey county line to address “one of the most significant and least permeable wildlife connectivity bottlenecks in California.”

The Intergovernmental Committee approved a letter asking Caltrans to prohibit left turns onto Highway 156 from Flint and Bixby roads and Lucy Brown Lane between 3-7 p.m.

China modeled some of its climate programs on policies first adopted by California. Now, California depends on the world’s most populous country for essential materials in its electric vehicle ambitions.

Caltrans is almost finished with a new turbo roundabout project just outside Hollister. Caltrans is releasing a “how-to” video on how to navigate this new feature—the first in the state.

Caltrans is looking at a wildlife crossing overpass on Highway 101 near San Juan Bautista. The area was identified in the top 12 locations in the state to maintain a healthy wildlife population.

Hydrogen fueling stations will get 15 percent of funds in a state program — even though Californians own only about 12,000 hydrogen cars. The funds come from fees paid by drivers.

Powered by state and federal investments, Caltrans has awarded $41.6 million in planning grants for 90 sustainable, climate-resilient transportation projects. The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, which includes San Benito, Monterey, and Santa Cruz counties, received $750,000.

Travelers on State Route 25 in Paicines will be subject to one-way reversing traffic control with a flagging operation in place.

The San Benito County Civil Grand Jury shared its findings on Hollister’s traffic calming measures, noting that the city should be “commended for attempting to be proactive” but did not have a formal policy or procedure in place when it implemented the measures.

With only 12,000 hydrogen cars on the road, and just two models for sale, California lawmakers are debating how much state money should support them.

The Hollister City Council is scheduled to review next steps on Ladd Lane and Southside Road. The project originally called for installing traffic calming measures to deter speeding. Since the city began work, members of the community have spoken against the measures.

A battle is brewing over the future of self-driving trucks in California, and local tech companies are keeping a close watch on Sacramento as it weighs major changes to the industry.

The Caltrans Hwy 25 curve alignment restoration project was originally designed to straighten out a double curve around a hill that the agency considered dangerous to motorists. The poorly designed project has become a money pit.

Though the Council of San Benito County Governments voiced concerns, they voted 4-1 to approve additional funds for the Hwy 156 Improvement Project, which partially cover a $13.8 million increase in costs incurred due to the 2022-23 rainy season.

In December, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County spent $17 million to buy Rocks Ranch, a 2,600-acre property near San Juan Bautista that has been eyed by developers. The group is working to build a crossing so that wildlife can traverse Highway 101 without being killed.

California's public transit agencies are seeking $5 billion over five years to keep buses and trains running, but time is running out in the budget process at the state Capitol. To address criticism, they submitted a new accountability plan.