The Collector
October 4, 2024
Local Ballot Measures Could Impact Walkability, Transit and More
Humboldt County voters will soon be receiving their ballots in the mail. Three local ballot measures deserve particular attention from voters concerned about safe, sustainable and equitable transportation.
As we have reported previously, Eureka’s Measure F is an attempt to block the city from building affordable housing and a transit center on underused downtown parking lots. This measure weaponizes parking in an attempt to stop the construction of desperately needed homes for local people and a transit hub that would improve local and regional bus service and help revitalize downtown. It could also result in the city losing access to millions in crucial state funds and possibly losing control of its own land use regulations. CRTP opposes Measure F and encourages Eureka voters to vote no.
Humboldt County’s Measure O proposes a new, countywide 1% sales tax, and Arcata’s Measure H proposes a new 0.75% sales tax within city limits. Both are “general taxes,” meaning that in theory the revenue could be spent on anything the county (Measure O) or the city (Measure H) chooses. However, the Board of Supervisors and the Arcata City Council have both promised to spend revenues only on specific lists of eligible uses, and thanks to advocacy from CRTP and our allies, the lists for both measures include public transit. The Measure H list also includes bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
Of the two measures, Measure O would bring in far more revenue. And while the Supervisors promised to spend most of it on roads, they also promised an unspecified but significant amount to support bus services. If only ten or twenty percent of the expected revenues were dedicated to transit, that would represent roughly a twenty-five or fifty percent increase in the Humboldt Transit Authority budget, which could allow transformative improvements in local bus service. CRTP has not taken an official position on Measure O or Measure H.
Fatal Crash on Harris Street
Two drivers struck a man crossing the street on a mobility scooter last week in Eureka. According to police, the first driver knocked the man off his scooter, while the second hit and killed him. We grieve the loss of another member of the community on our streets, and our thoughts are with the friends and family of the victim.
The statement issued by police indicates that visibility issues caused by the sun being in drivers’ eyes contributed to the crash. If the drivers’ visibility was so limited that they could not see a pedestrian in time to stop and avoid a crash, that suggests that they were exceeding a safe speed for the conditions. Yet the police statement also says that speed “does not appear to be a factor.” And the statement says the victim was “outside of a crosswalk and away from the intersection,” which implies that the victim was at fault and would have been safe if crossing in a crosswalk.
In fact, this is known to be a dangerous area for pedestrians, in crosswalks or not. Street Story reports indicate that cars routinely fail to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks in the area, and one report relays an incident in which a person in a wheelchair was hit by a driver in a crosswalk. A neighbor who knew the victim in last week’s crash told a Times-Standard reporter that nobody feels safe crossing Harris in that area, and people with cars often drive across the street to the grocery store to avoid having to cross as a pedestrian.
Crashes on streets that are known to be dangerous are not “accidents,” and pedestrians who are killed by drivers are not to blame for their own deaths. We know that safe street design leads to slower cars and less lethal outcomes, and the city of Eureka thankfully has taken steps to improve safety on other streets. To save lives and prevent future tragedies, we must go further. It’s time for comprehensive changes to our streets and to our pedestrian victim-blaming culture.
Humboldt Bay Trail Won’t Be Finished Until Spring
An update on the county’s website indicates that trail construction between Arcata and Eureka is now expected to wrap up by May 2025. Hopes had been high for the long-awaited trail to be completed this fall, but we are all now looking forward to walking, biking and rolling on it next spring.
Supervisors Reduce Parking Requirements for Some New Housing
A new Humboldt County ordinance aims to implement a state law allowing homes to be built on land zoned for commercial development. We are happy to report that, following months of advocacy from CRTP, the Board of Supervisors made a few changes before approving the ordinance this week. Specifically, they removed parking mandates for new housing within half a mile of a bus stop and incentivized building in already-developed areas. These changes will help ensure that the new ordinance supports affordable, walkable housing instead of more sprawl.
It’s the Week Without Driving!
This week is the national Week Without Driving. Thanks to everyone who has taken the pledge to get around this week without getting behind the wheel. We’ll be sharing some reflections from participants after the week is over.
And thanks to the 20+ people who showed up to our first walk audit on Wednesday! Whether or not you’ve participated in the Week Without Driving so far, you are invited to join CRTP and our partners for our next walk audit on Saturday from 5 to 6 pm, starting at 5th and O Streets in Eureka. (We’ll be done in time for you to head on over to Arts Alive!)
Check Out a Recording of Our Street Story Training on Our YouTube Channel!
Our Outreach Specialist, Kelsey, has been out in the community providing Street Story presentations to local agencies and organizations. The presentation provides information about Street Story, why it’s important and how to utilize it in the community. Now it has been recorded! We are excited to provide this resource for folks to use in their future street safety efforts! Click here to watch the presentation, then check out the rest of our YouTube channel and subscribe to future videos. And don’t forget to make your Street Story reports!
Get Your Tickets for Our Mosaics with Mir Fundraiser!
Join CRTP and local artist Mir de Silva on Thursday, October 10th for a mosaic-making workshop at Six Rivers Brewery in McKinleyville! All mosaic supplies will be included and all ticket proceeds benefit the work of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities. We look forward to crafting a safer, greener future with you! Click here to buy tickets.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Newsom Signs Caltrans Complete Streets Bill
While Caltrans has started taking non-drivers into account in recent years, the agency has not always lived up to its promises to provide safe and convenient facilities for people walking, biking or riding the bus. The new law will require Caltrans to set specific targets for active transportation and transit facilities and increase accountability for meeting those targets. Since our region’s most dangerous roads are state highways, this is a big deal for the North Coast.
Unfortunately, while the governor signed the complete streets bill, his record on transportation safety continues to be mixed. For example, he vetoed a bill that would have required automakers to alert drivers when they dramatically exceed the speed limit. While the original bill would have required technology that actively slowed speeding vehicles, it was watered down in the legislature to require a mere driver alert – but even that was apparently a step too far for Governor Newsom.
Electric Vehicles Really Are Better Than Gas-Powered Ones
At CRTP, our focus is on reducing the amount of driving in our region and getting more folks safely walking, biking and riding the bus. All cars and trucks have huge environmental and social costs, regardless of how they are powered. But we are under no illusion that people will stop driving entirely, and to avoid climate chaos it’s critical that whatever driving is done in the future is done in zero-emission vehicles. Unfortunately, a growing number of Americans believe that EVs are worse than gas cars for the environment – something that’s just not true.
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.