The Collector
July 31, 2026
Join the Fight to Protect Transit!
At Governor Newsom’s request, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently approved a new policy that will allow oil companies to pollute more while eliminating funding for transit, housing, and clean air and water programs. This terrible policy undercuts a deal made just last fall by the governor and the legislature to reauthorize the state’s “Cap and Invest” carbon pollution marketplace and distribute revenues to transit and other climate-related programs.
Local transit agencies on the North Coast are currently relying on grant funding from these at-risk state programs to improve service, upgrade bus stops, transition to zero-emission buses, and build planned transit hubs in Eureka and Crescent City, among many other important investments. If CARB’s new rule is allowed to go into effect, these programs could be completely defunded as soon as next year.
Fortunately, there is hope: the California legislature can overturn the policy and keep its promise of funding for transit, housing, and clean air and water. But they have to act now.
Transit, housing, and environmental justice advocates from across the state are holding a rally and lobby day in Sacramento on August 10th to urge the legislature to act. If you can make it to Sacramento, RSVP here to let the organizers know you’re coming and let them know to set up a meeting for you with a state legislator. Your presence can make a big difference!
If you can’t make it to Sacramento, click here to send a message to the legislature today.
If you’re a bus rider, we also encourage you to take CRTP’s survey to tell us about your experiences using the local transit system and priorities for improvement. The action isn’t just in Sacramento: we’re organizing our local movement for transit right here on the North Coast!
Federal Transit Cuts May Be Coming, Too
As we’ve previously reported, Congress is currently considering legislation that would drastically cut transit funding. And Trump’s Department of Transportation is already withholding billions in transit funding that was approved by Congress under existing law.
Rural agencies like those on the North Coast rely most heavily on federal funding. A new analysis estimates that Congressional District 2 – which includes Humboldt and Del Norte counties along with much of the rest of the region – would lose $8.4 million in transit funding if the bill is enacted.
Transit Month Will Be Here Soon!
September is Transit Month in California, and it’s only a month away. CRTP will be celebrating all month with events and public education about the crucial role public transit plays in supporting our local economy, our local communities, and our local environment. Mark your calendars for these events:
Thursday, September 10th, 5:45 – 6:45 pm: Public talk on “Protecting transit’s role in multi-racial inclusive democracy” by Laurel Paget-Seekins. Laurel is a Senior Policy Advocate for Transportation Justice at Public Advocates, a leader in the fight for statewide transit funding in California, and a former Assistant General Manager for Policy at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Open Society Foundations Leadership in Government fellow.
Monday, September 14th, 5:30 – 7:30 pm: Humboldt Transit Authority Bus Driver Meet & Greet. HTA bus drivers will be joining CRTP at Friends of the Eel River’s monthly Solidarity Gathering. Meet the folks who keep the buses moving, ask them your burning questions about how transit works, and show your appreciation for some of our community’s most essential workers. Special thanks to AFSCME Local 1684 for co-sponsoring this event.
October 1-8: Week Without Driving. The Week Without Driving immediately follows Transit Month this year. This event helps drivers understand the experiences of nondrivers, including many people with disabilities, seniors, kids, and folks who can’t afford a car. Anyone can sign up to participate, but we particularly encourage elected officials, public agency staff, business leaders, and editors and reporters at local media outlets to sign up, since these are all positions with a strong influence on our local transportation system.
We’ll also be organizing transit ride-alongs during September and the first week of October. Are you a regular bus rider who would like to show an elected official or other decision-maker what it’s like for you to get around on the bus? Are you a local leader who would like to get some first-hand knowledge from a rider and experience a transit commute? Reach out to CRTP and we’ll connect you for a transit ride-along during Transit Month or the Week Without Driving.
Eureka Residents Want More Housing & Livable Streets
The results are in from Eureka’s recent public workshop on housing. Nearly 100 people participated in a variety of activities to provide their input on how to make housing more abundant, accessible, and affordable. Participants broadly supported more housing of all types throughout the city. And according to the staff summary: “Participants want walkable, bikeable neighborhoods with safe streets, more parks and green space, mixed-use development, and traffic-calming improvements. Many hope for reduced reliance on cars, better transit connections, and neighborhood amenities such as corner stores and community gathering spaces.” All around, it’s a ringing endorsement of CRTP’s priorities!
News from Beyond the North Coast
Trump DOT Continues Crusade Against Safety
In addition to canceling funding for any safety project that includes a bike lane, the Trump administration is now removing from its website tools for measuring bike and pedestrian safety improvements, as well as any mention of evidence-based safety improvements that might make drivers slow down.
We Really Can Eliminate Traffic Deaths If We Try
Somerville, Massachusetts has gone three years without a traffic death, after committing to a comprehensive program of evidence-based improvements in street design – including speed bumps, bike lanes, crosswalks, and bus stops. Hoboken, New Jersey, which has now gone nine years without a traffic death, had already proven this is possible in the US. We’re glad to see the growing ranks of communities safe from traffic deaths!
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.