The Collector
August 23, 2024
Just Over a Month Until the Week Without Driving!
Don’t forget: the 2024 Week Without Driving runs from September 30th through October 6th. If you or someone you know is a local elected official or appointed committee member, work for a public agency on transportation-related plans and projects, or just want to see your community from a different angle, consider taking the Week Without Driving pledge. Participating in this challenge provides the opportunity to experience first-hand what life may be like for the many members of our local community who are non-drivers, either because of their age, a disability, or because of the high cost of owning and operating a vehicle. We are also working to pair up decision-makers with regular transit riders for transit ride-alongs, which can help provide an even deeper perspective.
Public Workshop Next Week on Safety Improvements for Samoa Boulevard & US 101
Next Thursday at 5:30 pm, the City of Arcata is hosting a workshop at the Arcata Community Center to discuss how the highway interchange at Samoa Boulevard and US 101 could be made safer and more comfortable for people walking, biking and rolling. This is one of the most dangerous spots in the city for bicyclists and pedestrians and acts as a barrier between the Bayside and Sunny Brae neighborhoods and the rest of the city, so we’re excited to see improvements. The city will also be discussing possible changes to the rest of Samoa Boulevard and South G Street. Click here for more information on the project, or click here to take a survey. And please show up on Thursday to advocate for meaningful safety improvements!
Remember to Report Safe Places on Street Story
Did you know you can report safe places on Street Story? While reports of crashes, near misses and road hazards are critically important, locating safe areas is also very useful information. Currently, only 3% of the Humboldt County reports are safe places. Safe place reporting helps us understand where communities are doing something right, and where people might be traveling to avoid other streets they don’t feel safe on. This is all helpful and useful information to get insight on the community’s travel experiences. If you haven’t been in a crash and can’t think of any hazard areas, consider reporting a road or intersection where you feel safe! Haga clic aquí para hacer un informe en español.
Humboldt County Planning Commission Discusses Parking Policy
While deliberating on a new ordinance to allow housing to be built on commercially zoned properties, some Commissioners brought up the fact that any future housing projects will still have to comply with the county’s costly parking mandates. Thankfully, the ordinance does allow the number of required spaces to be reduced under some circumstances, but in general those mandates still apply. Additionally, the county scrapped a requirement in the ordinance that the new housing be located in existing communities – a change which we fear will encourage more car-dependent sprawl. CRTP will be advocating to fix these problems before the final ordinance is adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
Want to Help Plan the Future of Your Community?
If you live in McKinleyville or Arcata, this might be your opportunity! Arcata now has an open seat on its Planning Commission; click here to apply. In McKinleyville, the Municipal Advisory Committee provides input to the county on land use and transportation planning topics, and three members’ terms are about to expire. Click here for more information on how to apply for one of the McKinleyville positions.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Want to Take the Bus to Your Next Hike?
In some rural, tourist-oriented areas, buses and shuttles take people directly to popular trailheads and outdoor recreation areas. There are a lot of challenges to designing transit access to nature in a way that is efficient and cost effective, but it’s a pretty exciting idea to consider here on the beautiful North Coast!
How Would You Feel About Paying Separately for Your Parking Spot?
If you live in an apartment, chances are good that it comes with a parking spot or two – and that the cost of providing that parking is included in your monthly rent payment. Charging separately for housing and parking (called “unbundling”) helps reveal the true cost of parking and ensures that people aren’t forced to pay for parking they don’t use. A new study suggests that many people would be happy to accept this arrangement, even when they own multiple cars.
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.