Council approves Highway 46 East crossing feasibility study, forms alley beautification committee

The Paso Robles City Council took steps this week to address both the city's growing industrial outskirts and its historic downtown core. In a 3-2 vote, council members approved a nearly $357,000 feasibility study for a new crossing along Highway 46 East. Meanwhile, the council also established a new ad hoc committee focused on beautifying and improving the alleys surrounding Downtown City Park.

According to the Paso Robles Daily News, the Tuesday night meeting was held at the temporary location of Centennial Park and streamed via YouTube. The decisions highlight the balancing act local officials face as they manage regional transportation demands alongside neighborhood quality-of-life issues.

Evaluating Future Access on Highway 46 East

The most debated item of the evening centered on the city's eastern industrial and airport corridor. The council voted 3-2 to authorize a $356,583 professional services agreement with The Wallace Group to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for potential crossings at Highway 46 East.

The study will focus on the area near the Paso Robles Municipal Airport, examining the viability of undercrossings or overcrossings near Airport Road, Union Road, and Huer Huero Creek. The analysis will weigh several complex factors, including necessary engineering requirements, traffic flow, drainage, environmental restrictions, impacts on private property, and overall estimated construction costs.

Funding for the study will come from $465,000 in previously collected transportation impact fees. It is important to note that this vote authorizes a study rather than actual design or construction. Local officials have long discussed the need to improve access to the airport and surrounding industrial properties to accommodate future economic growth.

Council Weighs Scope and Legal Risks

The approval of the highway study did not come without friction. The vote was split 3-2, with Councilmembers Chris Bausch, Kris Beal, and Fred Strong in favor, and Mayor John Hamon and Councilmember Steve Gregory opposed.

Gregory initially pushed to approve the study but wanted to exclude a specific portion of the proposed study area—identified by the color purple on project materials—which he characterized as being "too far out there." However, City Attorney Elizabeth Hull warned the council that altering the geographical scope of the study at the dais could create legal complications.

After Gregory’s motion to amend the study area failed in a 2-3 vote, Bausch moved to approve the agreement as originally proposed, seconded by Strong. While the feasibility study itself costs just over $350,000, it serves as a preliminary step for a much larger infrastructure puzzle. According to the staff presentation, figuring out how to finance the actual Union Road overcrossing and interchange improvements remains a key next step. Early estimates for that eventual construction project exceed $150 million.

A Fresh Look for Downtown Alleys

Shifting focus from regional infrastructure to downtown pedestrian experiences, the council also unanimously moved to form a new ad hoc committee aimed at revitalizing the alleys north and south of Downtown City Park.

Councilmembers Steve Gregory and Kris Beal were appointed to lead the committee. Their objective is to develop recommendations for improving the safety, visual appeal, and overall usability of these narrow downtown corridors. The committee's scope will look beyond just Norma’s Alley, taking a comprehensive view of the spaces that connect downtown merchants and patrons.

The city has explored enhancements for Norma’s Alley and other adjacent walkways for roughly a decade. Past completed improvements include the installation of wayfinding signs, the formal naming of the alley, and the construction of a privately funded archway. However, various other proposed projects over the years have stalled.

The new committee aims to break that decade-long inertia. Gregory and Beal are expected to collaborate with city staff, utility providers, nearby business owners, and residents to prioritize short- and long-term projects. Their work is expected to include a walking tour and about four public meetings before bringing formal recommendations back to the full council.

Because the ad hoc committee is strictly advisory, its formation does not require new city funding. However, the recommendations they eventually bring forward could lead to requests for project allocations in future city budgets, paving the way for tangible upgrades to the heart of Paso Robles.