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Board greenlights $260,000 road striping plan for four county segments; debate over paint vs. thermoplastic
Summary
Supervisors approved up to $260,000 to restripe key county roads (Fraser Lake, Fairway, Union and segments of Santa Ana). Staff will solicit bids and plans to begin work in about six weeks; board directed paint on most segments and discussed lifecycle tradeoffs before planned resurfacing this summer.
San Benito County supervisors approved a staff proposal March 25 to restripe centerlines and selected edge lines on several county roads, using up to $260,000 in road-fund money, while debating the use of paint versus longer-lasting thermoplastic markings.
The work covered four segments: Fraser Lake Road (3.4 miles of centerline striping), Fairway Road (about 1.2 miles), Union Road (approximately 2.7 miles) and two segments of Santa Ana Road. Public-works manager Steve Loop told the board the county planned to use painted centerlines on the three longer segments because those roads are scheduled for resurfacing this summer; the Santa Ana segments are not currently scheduled for resurfacing and staff proposed thermoplastic there to provide a longer-lasting line. Loop summarized the plan: "We're painting 3.4 miles of Fraser Lake Road... and then doing the actual resurfacing of the bad segment, which is 1.8 miles, in the summer. ... For Santa Ana Road... we will actually be installing thermoplastic ... since we aren't doing permanent improvements on Santa Ana Road in the near future."
Cost and timing: Loop said public-works staff would solicit bids from prequalified contractors and expected to start work roughly a month to six weeks after bids are returned; lower-end bid estimates for the package were expected in the $170,000 range if thermoplastic on Santa Ana is not included. Supervisors expressed concern about placing thermoplastic on roads due for repaving soon, since repaving can remove such markings. After discussion, the board favored using paint on the resurfacing-targeted roads to avoid waste and keeping thermoplastic only where it provides lasting benefit.
Board action and rationale: Supervisors approved the road-stenciling package by unanimous roll call (5-0). Several supervisors emphasized the public-safety value of clear striping on routes drivers use at night and urged staff to proceed quickly; others said the county should prioritize more extensive pavement repairs when funding allows.
Implementation notes: Staff said they would bid the work, return with contractor awards, and consider using any remaining funding in the $260,000 allocation for additional striping such as the landfill entrance turn pocket on John Smith Road.
