The Collector
August 7, 2026
Arcata Evening Bus Service Continues…for Now
Earlier this week, we issued a call to action to protect Arcata’s bus service from cuts proposed by Cal Poly Humboldt. CRTP’s members and supporters responded in a big way, letting university president Richard Carvajal know that students, staff, faculty, and members of the broader Arcata community rely on the bus to get around, and urging them to reverse the cuts. And all those messages had an impact!
Here’s the background: for many years, Cal Poly Humboldt has funded evening (7-10 pm) bus service in Arcata, and since 2023, all day service on the Green & Gold route that runs throughout the city. But university administrators recently told the Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) that they’d be cutting off that funding, effective immediately.
Following the outcry against the transit cuts from CRTP and our supporters, Cal Poly Humboldt representatives agreed an HTA board meeting this week to continue funding evening bus service for the fall semester. During this time, they will continue to negotiate with HTA over the future of evening bus service and other transit services funded by the university in Arcata.
Unfortunately, the Green & Gold route did not survive the negotiations. This route has seen low ridership and largely duplicates the Gold route, so the same stops will continue to be served. But removing the Green & Gold means that bus frequencies between Valley West and the Cal Poly Humboldt campus will decrease, making it harder for students and other community members to rely on the bus.
This fight isn’t over. Cal Poly Humboldt still seems intent on cutting support for evening bus service after the fall semester. But you can be sure that CRTP will keep advocating and organizing to ensure that doesn’t happen. This is a time for investing in more and better transit, not cutting our existing services!
If you want to help us campaign for better bus service, including evening service in Arcata, here are a couple of things you can do:
- If you’re a bus rider, take CRTP’s survey to tell us about your experiences using the local transit system and priorities for improvement.
- Email CRTP Outreach Specialist Kelsey Boyd at kelsey.boyd@transportationpriorities.org to share your stories about the importance of public transit and find out how to get more involved.
The Local E-Bike Voucher Program Is Back!
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) has more vouchers available to help local residents purchase e-bikes. You can apply to get $400 to $1,000 toward the purchase of an e-bike at a local bike shop. The exact amount depends on whether you buy a standard e-bike, a cargo model, or an adaptive bike for riders with specific physical needs.
New Affordable, Walkable Eureka Homes Available Soon
Three new apartment buildings under construction in Eureka are nearly complete. Nonprofit affordable housing developer Linc Housing has collectively named the buildings “The Mallard,” and is asking potential residents to put their names on an interest list now.
The completion of these three buildings will mark a milestone in Eureka’s efforts to convert underutilized parking lots into walkable, affordable homes. CRTP and our allies have been advocating for these projects for many years, and we’re excited to see that work come to fruition!
Arcata Planning Commission to Discuss Zoning Updates
Zoning updates might not sound very exciting. But this is all about implementation of the policy reforms that CRTP and our allies fought for during the years the city was developing the Gateway Plan and updating its General Plan. Parking reforms, density increases, and design standards that impact the ability to build more walkable, transit-friendly homes are all on the table.
News from Beyond the North Coast
E-Bikes: Where Do We Go From Here?
In 2025, the California Bicycle Coalition convened a working group called the California Independent Electric Mobility Council to discuss policy challenges around e-bikes and high-powered e-motos. The council just released its first report, which reaffirms that the safety issues identified by communities and policy makers are predominantly caused by e-motos, not e-bikes, and suggests some potential policy solutions.
Who Should Pay to Clean Up Parking Lot Pollution?
Currently, taxpayers mostly cover the costs of cleaning up all the hazardous pollution that runs off big parking lots into streams and rivers. The California Coastkeeper Alliance thinks the owners of big industrial and commercial properties where many of these parking lots are located should pay their fair share.
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.