Background
Caltrans has sent out a notice that it will be adding two additional alternatives to the environmental study being conducted for the Highway 25 Corridor Improvement Project.
The project aims to improve travel time and safety between Hollister and Gilroy by providing additional travel lanes, improved transit, and potentially a new route altogether. The study splits the project into two segments. Segment 1 stretches from San Felipe Road to Hudner Lane and would include the construction of a 25/156 interchange. Segment 1 is targeted to begin construction in 2031 and take approximately 2 years.
Segment 2 would start and Hudner Lane and finish at Bloomfield Avenue in Santa Clara County. Widening of 25 from Bloomfield to 101 is included in future iterations of the 101/25 interchange project being managed by VTA. Currently there is no timeline for segment 2 work.
Initial Alternatives and Farmer Pushback
Initially proposed were 6 alternatives with several sub-alternatives. These alternatives included a 4 lane, 3 lane, and 2-lane divided roads on an entirely new alignment to the west of the existing 25 south of 156 before hugging the existing route on both sides north of 156. Other alternatives included a busway and train service between Hollister and Gilroy.
Farmers and landowners claimed that this alignment would cut through prime farmland and make it harder, if not impossible, for farming these grounds to remain financially feasible. After taking the SBCOG board and members of Caltrans on a tour of the land, the new alternatives were added to the study.
Added Alternatives
The new alternatives include a 4-lane conventional highway and a 4 lane expressway on the existing alignment for segment 1. The conventional highway would not include new frontage roads while the expressway version would.
In order to add the new alternatives Caltrans will need to prepare a revised notice of preparation document initiating a new environmental study that includes the new alternatives.
Ultimately we will not know which alignment/alternative will be selected until the environmental document is completed. This will likely occur sometime between 2028 and 2030. According to Caltrans’ documents, construction would begin between 2030 and 2031.
Caltrans will be holding a public scoping meeting for a revised notice of preparation on November 19th,2025 from 5:30pm -7:00pm at the Paine’s Restaurant Banquet room located at 421 East St, Hollister, CA 95023.
Stay tuned for more!
Resources
State Route 25 Corridor Improvement Project Engagement Website
The San Benito Blueprint 
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