The Collector
August 2, 2024
Tri-County Independent Living Expo Next Week
Tri-County Independent Living is our region’s disability services and advocacy organization (and a member of CRTP). Next Friday from 10:30 to 2:30 at the Sequoia Conference Center in Eureka, they will be holding their 2024 Expo, which is free and open to the public. Come out to learn about community partners and local resources for people with disabilities. Transportation is often one of the biggest challenges for people with disabilities, and CRTP advocates for street designs and transit systems that are safe, convenient and accessible for everyone.
Provide Your Input for the Del Norte Regional Transportation Plan
The Del Norte Local Transportation Commission is beginning the process of updating the county’s Regional Transportation Plan, a process that occurs every four years and is a requirement for many state and federal funding programs. At CRTP, we believe the plan should focus on transportation safety, especially for people walking, biking and rolling, and should prioritize investments in the local transit system. If you have comments about what should be in the new plan, you can fill out the comment form on the Commission’s website.
In other Del Norte news, CRTP recently learned that Redwood Coast Transit Agency buses are now free for seniors and people with disabilities. The agency had already eliminated fares for youth and for veterans, and now even more of Del Norte’s bus riders can ride for free! The fare-free program is funded by a state grant.
Broadway Featured in Statewide Report on Caltrans Complete Streets Projects
We strongly support the South Broadway Complete Streets project, which was planned and funded in 2020 thanks to our advocacy and will hopefully start construction soon. We also support a related project, funded this year, that consists of a trail connecting the old K-Mart intersection with the Herrick Avenue Park and Ride (and the Waterfront Trail/Great Redwood Trail system). But CalBike points out that, within Caltrans’ primary funding program, the Broadway trail is one of only five projects in the state this year that is just for people walking and biking – compared to hundreds of projects that are just for drivers. On a statewide level, the amount of Caltrans funding that goes to bike and pedestrian infrastructure is still shamefully inadequate.
Street Story Reporting on West End Road
West End road is a main connector for those biking between Arcata and points east, such as Blue Lake, but it lacks a bike lane. The majority of the road is winding with many blind curves. Bicyclists on Street Story have reported being run off the road by cars, getting cut off, and other dangerous situations with drivers. Here are some highlight narratives we shared in our Street Story Analysis from earlier this year:
“Blind corners and residents who drive aggressively contribute to near-misses on a regular basis. This situation is incredibly intimidating for casual/inexperienced riders.”
“It’s a narrow area without a safe turnout available. Cars going in the opposite direction in a hurry don’t always care or see a bicyclist. It’s why I drive to blue lake and don’t ride even though I love the ride there. I would never allow my daughter to ride west end road or Glendale and when I do I’m scared.”
What are your experiences on West End Road? Share them on Street Story today! Haga clic aquí para hacer un informe en español.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Simple Lighting Systems Can Save Pedestrian Lives
The vast majority of pedestrian deaths occur after dark, and many happen in marked crosswalks. A new study finds that two simple lighting interventions – spotlighted crosswalks and flashing beacons – dramatically increase the rate of drivers yielding to pedestrians during nighttime hours.
Is California Living Up to Its Climate Funding Promises?
A new report reveals that the state is disguising cuts to climate programs using some creative accounting, meaning that its highly touted and urgently needed climate investments are not actually at the levels they should be. Transportation is the biggest source of climate pollution in the state, and increased levels of walking, biking, and transit riding are a big part of the solution.
The Collector is CRTP’s weekly transportation news roundup, published every Friday. We focus on North Coast news, but we also include relevant state, national and international transportation news – plus other items that we just find kind of interesting! To submit items for consideration, email colin@transportationpriorities.org.