Route 66 in the News
New Roadway Haunts 66 in Rialto
2005-03-28 20:50:05
Kicks aren't all you can get on Route 66. And soon, there will be another alternative to the fabled highway.
The three-mile stretch of the east-west corridor running through Rialto also offers manicure salons, auto parts stores and Mexican restaurants.
Steinbeck's Mother Road is changing. Now it's a bustling business district, lined with small shops as well as big chain stores.
But with the Interstate 210 extension under way, scheduled for completion in 2007, some are wondering what will become of Foothill Boulevard when, in addition to Base Line, there's another way to traverse Rialto.
"We're trying to figure out what the future holds for old state Route 66,' said Michael Story, director of Development Services in Rialto.
The city has contracted with planners RRM Design Group, who will work with Rialto and with Caltrans to develop a new look for Foothill.
"It probably doesn't warrant all being commercial anymore,' Story said. "Maybe mixed use some commercial, with some condos or town houses thrown in.'
Rialto Mayor Grace Vargas said she'd like to see the area cleaned up. She said the council has already passed an ordinance specifying what sorts of signs and banners are allowed.
"There are a lot of mom-and-pop businesses, and we want to keep those,' Vargas said. "I'd like to see all the businesses clean-cut, all the blight issues gone.'
"My vision is to see no weeds, nobody dumping trash,' Vargas said. "I'd like to see the Foothill corridor as clean as we can make it.'
Story said Foothill used to be Rialto's main commercial corridor.
The development of Base Line, Interstate 10 and now the I-210 extension is changing that, he said, and businesses are bound to notice fewer cars.
"When the freeway opens up, half of the traffic goes away,' Story said. "What do we do?'
Willetta McDowell owns Hair Biz Salon on Foothill. She said she's not worried about the opening of the I-210 extension.
"I think it's going to add to our business,' McDowell said.
"I see Fontana changing, Rancho (Cucamonga) changing. I look forward to seeing change,' she said. "All those new homes, and people coming off the 210, off (Interstate) 15 we all have something to look forward to.'
Ortega's Furniture owner Jaime Ortega agreed. He said after being in business for 12 years in the same location his store is known to customers who make the trip to shop there. That won't change, he said.
"I think the freeway will be nice,' Ortega said through an interpreter. "It means more people coming into Rialto, and that means more business for everybody.'
McDowell sees only good things for Hair Biz Salon.
"All over I think it's a positive,' she said. "I can't see any negatives with this one.'
~Nikki Cobb, San Bernardino Sun
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