The Collector
December 13, 2024
Affordable Housing and Transportation Safety in Eureka
This week, the Eureka Planning Commission gave its approval to an affordable housing development at Sunset Heights, on the bluffs above Broadway between Harris and Henderson Streets. CRTP supports housing in this location, which is transit accessible and within walking, biking and rolling distance of many destinations. However, we can’t ignore the fact that Broadway, Harris and Henderson are all dangerous streets for pedestrians and bicyclists, and there is a history of serious crashes in the area, including some that have been fatal. If you have experienced a hazard, crash, or near miss in this area, don’t forget to report it on Street Story.
We asked the city to coordinate this project with safety improvements on Harris and Henderson Streets, and Planning Commissioners agreed with our concerns. Depending on which funding programs are used for the affordable housing project, there might even be some money included to support such bike and pedestrian upgrades.
The Planning Commission also asked the City Council to set aside some land in the development area to accommodate the potential for one day building a pedestrian bridge over Broadway. While CRTP appreciates the intent to improve pedestrian safety and connectivity, we have concerns about a bridge. Walkability advocates have long pointed out that footbridges generally require pedestrians to walk significantly out of their way just to cross the street, and consequently they are inconvenient and often unused. They also do nothing to improve safety for bicyclists and other street users.
CRTP has worked hard for years to get Caltrans to improve bike and pedestrian safety on Broadway (a state highway). As a result of our work, Caltrans has proposed and is now seeking funding for major improvements throughout the corridor – including, in the Sunset Heights area, protected bike lanes, traffic calming, and intersection safety upgrades. We will be advocating for these changes to be implemented long before the future residents of Sunset Heights move in.
King Tide & Tea: Bike Ride on Sunday!
The Northcoast Environmental Center and CRTP are sponsoring a fun bike ride on the Eureka waterfront on Sunday, during one of the highest tides of the year. This is the latest – and possibly the last – in the series of rides our groups have sponsored over the last couple of years. Join us!
Arcata Unmet Transit Needs Hearing Next Week
The Arcata City Council is scheduled to hold a hearing to collect public input on unmet transit needs during its regular meeting next Wednesday. This is the last scheduled unmet transit needs hearing of the year – but if you can’t make it, your transit needs can still be heard! You can submit comments by calling or emailing the Humboldt County Association of Governments (go to this link and click on “Comment on Unmet Transit Needs”), or you can fill out an online survey. Responda la encuesta sobre necesidades de transporte insatisfechas en español aquí.
Check Out Our Comments on the Del Norte Regional Transportation Plan
CRTP and our friends at the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) and Friends of Del Norte have submitted a comment letter on the draft Del Norte County Regional Transportation Plan. You can submit your comments, too! We encourage you to read through our comments to get some ideas, and then submit your own comments on the plan via the Del Norte Local Transportation Commission site.
Get More Information on State E-bike Voucher (Launching Next Week!)
The state’s e-bike incentive program is finally launching next Wednesday. The first phase of the program will only release enough funding for up to 1,500 vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis, so be prepared to file your application quickly when the program launches! More information can be found on the official program website and from CalBike. CalBike is also hosting a webinar on Monday to provide information and answer questions about the program. Click here to register.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Parking Reform Can Increase Housing Production 40-70%
According to a new study from Colorado, removing costly mandates to build excessive parking with new development can dramatically increase the construction of new housing. According to the study, this reform alone can have a greater impact than two other common reforms – allowing more apartment buildings near transit and allowing accessory dwelling units in single-family neighborhoods – combined.
Big Trucks and SUVs Are Pedestrian Killers
New research adds to the mountain of evidence that enormous pick-up trucks and SUVs are much more dangerous to pedestrians and bicyclists than smaller vehicles. In fact, the new study found that pedestrians hit by a big vehicle at just 25 mph – the most common speed limit in residential and other “low speed” areas – have an 83% chance of suffering at least moderate injuries. The risk of a serious injury or fatality is also significant at relatively low speeds.
Star Safety Ratings Will Finally Consider Pedestrians
Until now, huge vehicles routinely got five-star safety ratings from the federal government, because the testing only considered people inside the vehicle. With the new changes, at least a little consideration will be given to the risks posed by the vehicle to pedestrians and bicyclists. It is the latest and one of the last in a series of safety reforms from the US Department of Transportation under Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
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.