The Collector
October 23, 2026
We Can Eliminate Traffic Deaths If We Want To
It’s been a bad year on Humboldt County streets and roads. The tragic death of 35-year-old James Christopher Lee after being hit by a driver last week marks at least the third pedestrian fatality this year on Broadway alone.
The urgent need for action to make our streets safer could not be more clear. And as the international Vision Zero movement point out, all traffic deaths and serious injuries are preventable. So the rollout of Humboldt County’s new Vision Zero Action Plan could not come soon enough.
CRTP is still reviewing the details of the draft plan, and you can expect to hear more from us in the coming weeks. But regardless of the details, it is critically important for community members to speak up in favor of evidence-based interventions that actually have the potential to achieve Vision Zero – not half-measures based on a Vision of a Little Less Carnage.
What are effective, evidence-based measures? Well, people need to drive more safely, but just telling them to do that is not an effective strategy, nor is relying on the vain hope of police officers catching all the dangerous drivers before they hurt someone. We’ve been trying these strategies for decades, and the impacts have been limited at best.
In contrast, we’ve long known that better street design is the most effective tool local communities have to reduce injuries and deaths. But streets can’t be designed for safety while also prioritizing the fast and free flow of vehicles. We can make our streets safe, but doing it will require some major changes to the status quo.
You can speak up for meaningful, effective traffic safety measures at the public Humboldt County Vision Zero Action Plan workshop next Wednesday at 5:30 pm (click here to join), or by emailing your comments to info@hcaog.net by November 9th.
Eureka Council to Discuss 4th & 5th Street Safety Overhaul
Thanks to Councilmember Leslie Castellano, the Eureka city council will soon hear from Caltrans about the possibility of removing lanes on 4th and 5th Streets to improve traffic safety.
CRTP first proposed this concept – the conversion of one driving lane in each direction to a protected bike lane – in our Dangerous Downtown Streets report last year, followed up by the petition we delivered to Caltrans this summer signed by almost 800 local residents and endorsed by many organizations and elected officials. It’s an evidence-based design concept that would improve safety for all users of these downtown streets. As a side benefit, it would likely also support local businesses by making the corridor a much nicer place to be.
Unfortunately, Caltrans staff have declined to even study the idea in their upcoming “feasibility study” for 4th and 5th Street safety improvements. And if a recent online poll is to be believed, plenty of members of the public still need education on the benefits of a lane conversion as well. So it is particularly important for the city council to take a definitive stand on the issue and urge Caltrans to do the right thing. Stay tuned for opportunities to speak up.
About That Cal Poly Humboldt Bus Funding
Last week, we reported that the Cal Poly Humboldt administration had produced a “Frequently Asked Questions” document about their funding of local bus services. Among other things, the document blamed the Humboldt Transit Authority for the university’s own decision to cut service, while also announcing that they would be funding the evening Orange Route in Arcata through the end of the school year.
Now HTA has responded with its own document clarifying where things really stand. HTA says that they “would not recommend reducing service in the absence of a resource constraint” and only suggested which services to cut after Cal Poly Humboldt announced their budget for transit would be drastically reduced. HTA also revealed that they have not been consulted about continuing Arcata evening service in the spring, and that the current “service arrangement extends through the Fall 2026 semester only.”
CRTP is supporting a growing student campaign for bus funding and working with partners throughout the community to ensure long-term support for Arcata evening service.
David Loya Is the 2026 Responsible Transportation Champion
CRTP has named former City of Arcata Community Development Director David Loya as the 2026 Responsible Transportation Champion. The annual award is given to local people who further CRTP’s mission of “promoting transportation solutions that protect and support a healthy environment, healthy people, healthy communities and a healthy economy on the North Coast.”
Loya is being recognized for his many years of work promoting walkable, bikeable, transit-friendly infill development in Arcata and throughout the region.
“David Loya recognizes the deep connections between housing, land use, and transportation,” said CRTP Executive Director Colin Fiske. “Over two decades at the City of Arcata, David was at the forefront of building community consensus around a vision of vibrant neighborhoods designed first and foremost for people, not cars. He has helped deliver numerous infill housing projects creating new affordable, walkable homes. And he led the city through the development and adoption of the Gateway Area Plan, Gateway zoning code, and General Plan 2045, which collectively are the most bike and pedestrian-friendly set of land use plans and regulations in Humboldt County. David Loya is truly a Responsible Transportation Champion.”
“Creating appropriate transportation options is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve the quality of life in our communities,” said Loya. “Better transit, more walkable neighborhoods, safe bike facilities, and smartly connected communities enhance the joy of getting from place to place for everyone.”
New Annie & Mary Trail Segment Almost Done!
For the first time there is a safe, comfortable way to bike, walk and roll between Baduwa’t (Mad River), Valley West, and the rest of Arcata. The trail is already seeing plenty of use, and will officially open next month.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Less Than Two Weeks Left to Vote!
Election Day is coming right up, but you can vote right now! As a reminder, CRTP encourages a No vote on Proposition 43, a No vote on Proposition 45, and a Yes vote on Arcata’s Measure G.
Building Housing Can Be a Climate Solution (Shhh, Don’t Tell Trump)
Climate-friendly infill development hasn’t fully avoided being sucked into the culture wars. But the zoning reforms that enable it still have bipartisan support.
Distracted Driving Really Is a Huge Problem
After a crash, it’s usually hard for police to tell whether the driver had been using their cell phone, so official reports don’t often list it as a major factor. But new research shows that phone use is extremely common in the crucial seconds before a collision.
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.