February Issue ~ Inside San Benito County’s Council of Governments

The Council of Governments (COG) for San Benito County takes great pains to analyze our local traffic and roads around San Juan and Aromas, as well as the rest of the County. We need to pay attention to the studies they make and participate whenever possible. Although Caltrans controls a lot of what can be done around highways, or not, the public voice does have an impact on decisions they make. Below, you will find text taken from the COG website that explains a bit of what they do along with projects near and future. If we would like to have better bus service, for example, there will be a Public Hearing on the Unmet Transit Needs on March 17 at the Board of Supervisors Chambers in Hollister, but there are two Public Meetings you can attend March 15 at 1:00 p.m. at the City of Hollister Recreation Center and March 16 at 1:30 p.m. at San Juan Bautista City Hall. Why is it important for R.E.A.C.H. San Benito Foundation to be monitoring what COG does? Because it keeps us abreast of the Bicycle/Pedestrian issues that affect our community recreation and safety. Playing an active role in COG allows us to bring attention to issues around kids biking to school, elders getting to markets, families getting outdoors, and folks biking to work! We know people are busy with life, so organizations like R.E.A.C.H. need to be out there working for you along with elected officials and volunteer Commissioners in the county. We are your “Parks Foundation” for San Benito County, fundraising for the Endowment that will maintain SBC parks.

Long Term Planning
The Council of Governments conducts long-term planning studies for San Benito County’s transportation needs. Working together with local and regional agencies, COG is completing work on several long-range plans.
2014 Regional Transportation Plan
2009 Bikeway and Pedestrian Master Plan
Public Participation Plan
AMBAG Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategies

Financing
The Council of Governments finances transportation projects through a variety of federal, state and local programs. The Council of Governments actively seeks special grants for the agency’s priority transportation projects. The largest funding programs include:
2010 Regional Transportation Improvement Program
2010 State Transportation Improvement Program
Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program
2011 Traffic Impact Fee Study Update
Regional Surface Transportation Program
Transportation Development Act

Traffic Modeling
A traffic model is a tool for analyzing the major ways people travel using a computer program. The Council of Governments uses data generated in traffic modeling to predict driver behavior and determine long-term needs for roadway improvements in the region.
Caltrans System Analysis Study
Valley Transportation Authority Southern Gateway Study