The Collector
May 29, 2026
VOTE!
Next Tuesday is Election Day. If you’re an eligible voter and you haven’t voted already, don’t wait any longer! You can mail in your ballot, drop it at a drop box, or vote in person. More information about voting in Humboldt County can be found here. Del Norte election information is here.
In addition to the high-profile state and federal elections, there are also local races on the ballot. Our elected officials make decisions every day about whether or not our streets get safer, our buses get more funding, our communities get more walkable, and our climate crisis gets addressed. Your vote matters!
The Final Days of Bike Month Are Packed with Activities
This weekend includes an Arcata Kids Bike Rodeo, a McKinleyville ride, and a Bay Trail Ride & Dine. We also encourage you to come see us at the 2026 Humboldt Trails Summit on Saturday, where CRTP will be tabling and providing free bike valet. If you want to help us provide bike valet at this and many other local events, email crtpbikevalet@gmail.com to find out more and volunteer.
As always, wherever you ride, report any biking hazards, near-misses or even (we hope not) crashes on Street Story. Finally, don’t forget that the Redwood Coast Energy Authority’s e-bike voucher program has funding available! You can apply now for vouchers of $400 or more toward the purchase of an e-bike!
A Moment of Truth for Local Climate Action
CRTP has been advocating for nearly a decade to get a meaningful Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP) adopted and implemented. Now that Humboldt County, Eureka, Arcata, and other local agencies have finally adopted the RCAP, it’s time to get down to work and start reducing carbon pollution.
The first step, according to the plan itself, is to form a Regional Climate Committee and hire an RCAP Administrator. After long negotiations, the county and cities agreed to each provide a share of the funding for the Administrator’s salary, and the Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) agreed to actually hire the Administrator and form the committee. But this week, we found out all of that could be in jeopardy.
RCEA and all local governments in our region are facing major financial pressures as they approach the new fiscal year, which starts July 1st. The RCEA Board of Directors met this week, and with a big budget deficit projected for next year, their agenda included a discussion of potentially cutting a new staff Director position meant to oversee the RCAP Administrator, as well as key climate programs like e-bike vouchers. In addition, a staff report indicated that local cities have been privately backing away from their promises to contribute to funding the Administrator position, casting doubt on the region’s commitment to any kind of coordinated climate action.
After learning of these threats, CRTP and our allies sprang into action. We are happy to report that, thanks to our advocacy, the RCEA Board directed their staff to develop a budget that includes the new Regional Climate Director position and makes only minimal changes to e-bike vouchers and other climate programs.
We have also received assurances from the City of Arcata that they plan to contribute their fair share of funding toward the RCAP Administrator position, as previously promised. However, as of this writing, it is still unclear whether Eureka and other local governments will step up as well. The Eureka City Council will be discussing their budget next Tuesday, and we’ll be advocating to make sure it includes the promised support.
It is often said that a budget is a statement of values. Local governments provide lots of important services, and there are always hard choices to make at budget time. But if local leaders are serious about their commitments to urgent climate action, they will have to make the climate a budget priority. In a very real sense, our future depends on it.
Indianola Undercrossing Project (Mostly) Done
After many years of planning and construction costing $46 million, Caltrans this week celebrated the completion of the Indianola undercrossing on the US-101 corridor between Arcata and Eureka. We’re glad to see what used to be a very dangerous intersection made safer. And we hope that Caltrans’ willingness to spend so much on one safety project is a sign that they’ll also be willing to spend what it takes to address the equally dangerous 4th Street, 5th Street, and Broadway, just a few miles down the road.
We also feel obliged to note that the Indianola project is not actually fully complete, because the connection to the Bay Trail isn’t done – although it looks like it’ll be finished soon. Speaking of the Bay Trail, if you’re planning on using it next week, take note that it will be closed on Thursday and Friday for some minor construction.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Bike & Pedestrian Project Streamlining Bill Passes Assembly
As we previously reported, AB 1976 would dramatically change how new bike and pedestrian safety projects are approved in California. The initial version of the bill would have prohibited local governments from holding separate community meetings on each project, as long as that project was already included in other adopted plans. The intent is to prevent the endless local fights that often delay or stop important safety projects.
However, advocates worried that the bill could also reduce opportunities to provide input that actually improves project design. In response, the bill was amended to allow community meetings to be held, so long as they are not for the purpose of delaying or stopping a project. It has now passed the Assembly and moves on for consideration in the Senate.
Walkable, Transit-Friendly Homes Save Local Governments Money
A new report adds to the evidence that infill development is much more cost-effective for communities to build than suburban sprawl, in part due to the lower costs of building and maintaining infrastructure. Infill development also results in higher property values, which increase local government revenues and allow them to provide important services.
Drivers Are More Likely to Speed & Use Their Phones at the Same Time
Speeding and distracted driving are two of the most dangerous driving behaviors. A new study has found that drivers are actually more likely to use their phones while speeding, making both behaviors even riskier.
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.