The Collector

November 13, 2026

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Students Increase Pressure on University Over Bus Funding

After months of campaigning by students, with the support of CRTP and other community allies, Cal Poly Humboldt responded with a public statement early this week proclaiming that the university is “committed to funding evening [bus] service.” But they also admitted that have yet to “figure out what that service will look like and the funding needed.” In other words, the university has not committed to a specific funding amount or a specific level of evening service for the spring. And they made no commitments at all beyond this fiscal year.

Neither CRTP nor student activists were satisfied by these limited assurances. It’s unacceptable for students and other local bus riders to wonder every semester whether there will be bus service the next semester, or during school breaks. Bus riders deserve predictable, high quality service they can rely on to get to school, to jobs, to the grocery store, and wherever else they need to go.

On Tuesday, after the university statement was issued, students organized by the campus chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America packed a University Senate meeting to demand long-term funding for year-round evening bus service in Arcata without increasing student fees. When they felt their demands were not being heard by the decision makers present – who included President Richard Carvajal and Vice President Michael Fisher – the students shut down the meeting in protest.

Many students remained after the Senate left the room and discussed the issue directly with Fisher. Eventually, Fisher seemed to agree to some of their demands, although no explicit agreement was reached. CRTP continues to stand in solidarity with the students and support their demands.

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Amtrak Bus Decisions Forthcoming

At a meeting next Friday, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) is set to adopt a report with recommendations on thruway bus service, including the Route 7 Amtrak bus serving the North Coast.

While the draft report currently calls for reduced mid-week service and other potential service cuts on Route 7, we’ve heard that it will soon be amended to call for service improvements instead! This is a direct result of SJJPA hearing from so many Humboldt residents about the importance of the service.

We encourage anyone who cares about the Amtrak bus to attend next Friday’s meeting via Zoom and voice support for potential service improvements, like increased weekend service and new express buses during periods of high student ridership.

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Join the Transit Justice Movement!

On Monday evening, CRTP will be hosting another organizing meeting for bus riders and allies. We’ll be discussing recent developments and next steps in the campaigns to protect Arcata and Amtrak bus service. If you’d like to join us, contact CRTP Outreach Specialist Kelsey Boyd at kelsey.boyd@transportationpriorities.org.

If you can’t make Monday’s meeting but still want to support the local transit justice movement, we’ve got you covered! Share your transit story using this online form to help us advocate for increased transit investments and better bus service.

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World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Sunday, November 15th is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. CRTP knows of 11 people who have died on Humboldt County roads so far in 2026, although there may be more. Every day, more serious crashes remind us of the urgent need to end the scourge of traffic deaths.

There is limited public information available about many local road traffic victims. Often we don’t even know their names. But with the information we have, we invite community members to join us in remembering and honoring them on this occasion:

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Last Chance to Vote for CRTP

Voting ends Sunday in the North Coast Co-op’s annual contest to choose recipients of the Seeds for Change register round-up program. The organizations that receive the most votes from Co-op owners will each get donations for one month next year from all customers who “round up” their purchases at the register. That’s a significant amount of money for a small-but-mighty organization like CRTP! If you’re a Co-op owner, please click here to vote for CRTP, or vote in person at one of the Co-op stores.

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New Annie & Mary Trail Segment Officially Open

Today, more than three miles of new trail connecting Arcata’s Sunset neighborhood to Valley West and Baduwa’t (the Mad River) officially opened to the public. For the first time, Valley West residents have a safe biking and walking route connecting them to the rest of Arcata. And the long-planned Annie & Mary Trail to Blue Lake is one step closer to reality!

In other local bike and pedestrian safety news, we are excited to see improvements coming next week to the Hammond Trail crossing of Hiller Road in McKinleyville, and a roundabout on Highway 255 with new crosswalks and shoulders for bike and pedestrian use.

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News from Beyond the North Coast

Caltrans Is Failing (And So Is Almost Every Other State DOT)

Transportation for America is out with a new report card for state departments of transportation. When it comes to increasing road safety, maintaining existing roads, investing in non-car infrastructure, and even reducing congestion, Caltrans gets a failing grade. And so does every other state DOT (except Minnesota).

What can Caltrans do better? Climate Plan has a list of specific recommendations for incoming governor Xavier Becerra.

What If Instead of a Parking Space You Had…a Park?

The Parking Reform Network has a new guide for creating your own parklet.

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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.