Hollister getting $1m-plus grant for bicycle, pedestrian access

The City of Hollister is receiving more than $1 million grant to help pay for westside gateway bicycle and pedestrian access.

According to an announcement from the city:

The City of Hollister is receiving a $1,078,000 Active Transportation Program grant through the California Transportation Commission to improve bicycle and pedestrian access in west Hollister.

The West Gateway Project, scheduled for construction in the year 2020/2021, includes a comprehensive approach to improving access and mobility of all users of the City’s transportation network. Project improvements will transform Fourth Street between Westside Boulevard and Graf Road from its existing highway design to a pedestrian and bicycle friendly roadway. Project highlights include:

• Adding high visibility crosswalks and curb extensions to shorten crossing distances for pedestrians at several intersections along Fourth Street and near Calaveras Elementary School
• Filling sidewalk gaps along Fourth Street
• Incorporating on-street parking
• Addressing gaps to existing bike lanes along Fourth Street
• Adding bike lanes on Central Avenue-Third with a connection to Fourth Street from Bridgevale and Bridge Road.

One of the City’s top scoring portions of the grant application was public engagement. In particular, the efforts of Councilmember Mickie Solorio Luna contributed to the success of community participation by hosting several community meetings in District 2 where the project is located.  Councilmember Luna specifically expressed her appreciation to the residents who shared their comments and support of the improvements planned for the area.

The City of Hollister would also like to extend a special thank you to state Sen. Anthony Cannella and Assembly member Luis Alejo for their letters of support and for continually advocating for citywide projects.  Other key partners that contributed to the success of the grant include the Council of San Benito County Governments (COG), Hollister School District, San Benito County Office of Education and the residents and business owners that participated in community meetings.  

For more information on the West Gateway Project, please contact Mary Paxton with the City Of Hollister Development Services at (831) 636-4316, Extension 16 or email at [email protected].