Draft Plans for Eureka’s Coastal Areas Now Available

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Colin Fiske

The Collector

June 30, 2023

Draft Plans for Eureka’s Coastal Areas Now Available
The Coastal Land Use Plan covers the city’s entire coastal zone, while the Waterfront Specific Plan focuses on Old Town, the Library district and surrounding areas. Both draft plans are now available for review, and the city is accepting public comment.

CRTP is excited that the city is finally modernizing coastal zoning rules, many of which have remained basically unchanged since the 1960s. The new rules go a long way toward encouraging denser, more walkable development and planning better bike and pedestrian infrastructure. However, we think some improvements could still be made, like eliminating counterproductive and costly parking mandates, providing more protected bike lanes, and acknowledging the importance of public transit service in the area. Check out the links above to read the draft plans and provide your own comments today!

Commission Recommends Improvements to Gateway Zoning Code
This week, the Arcata Planning Commission weighed in on aspects of the proposed zoning code for the Gateway Area and recommended improvements. Several of the proposed changes come in response to education and advocacy from CRTP and our members and supporters.

Recommendations from the Commission included the removal of remaining car parking mandates, higher standards for long-term bike parking, and an increase in minimum building height to three stories (more density supports walkability and transit). These are big improvements to what was already a very strong code, and we’re excited about the progress! The Commission will forward their entire package of recommendations, developed over the last year and a half, to the City Council on July 11, but will likely continue discussing the Gateway plan and zoning code long after that.

Unmet Transit Needs in Del Norte County
This week, the Del Norte Local Transportation Commission concluded that there are real unmet transit needs in the county, including non-emergency medical transportation and significant bus stop upgrades, but there’s no money to meet those needs. This annual, state-mandated assessment process consistently highlights the need for greater investment in transit, both to better serve people who currently rely on it and to attract new riders. Increased transit ridership is a key strategy for fighting climate change, supporting economic development and increasing equity.

Caltrans Finally Agrees to Street Trees in Eureka
The volunteer group Keep Eureka Beautiful has long wanted to plant street trees on 4th and 5th Streets – part of Highway 101 – but had been stymied for years by bureaucratic wrangling with Caltrans and the city. Now the trees are finally being planted! When well selected and well placed, street trees can help create a more welcoming pedestrian environment and slow down traffic, increasing safety and comfort for everyone.

Street Story Reports Help Us Advocate for Safer Streets
When we are advocating to improve a plan or project, we frequently look at the Street Story map to see what people have reported. Your reports give us better information about the need for safety improvements! So don’t forget to make a report every time you experience a near-miss, a crash, or a hazardous location. La versión de Street Story en español está disponible aquí.

News from Beyond the North Coast

State Budget Avoids Fiscal Cliff for Transit Agencies
A $5.1 billion package should prevent immediate service cuts, but more sustainable investments will eventually be needed. Meanwhile, the budget negotiations also produced a package of bills aimed at streamlining approval of big infrastructure projects, including transportation infrastructure. While we applaud efforts to prevent bogus lawsuits of the type that have often been filed against projects like bike lanes and public transit improvements, we are concerned that the new laws could also help expedite old-fashioned, destructive highway projects.

Let’s Build Some More Housing on Strip Malls and Parking Lots
Tomorrow (July 1), new state laws will take effect to allow new housing to be built on commercially zoned land. In our region, CRTP has its eye on a number of huge, underutilized, commercially zoned parking lots in prime, walkable locations. We hope the owners of these properties see this as the opportunity it is and start preparing their plans!

Most People Know Wider Roads Don’t Actually Relieve Congestion
A new study shows that most of the public understands and accepts the well-documented phenomenon of “induced demand” – i.e., the idea that building more roads and more lanes just causes people to drive more. So why do transportation officials keep widening highways and promising congestion relief?

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.

Arcata’s Commitment to Complete Streets is Tested

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Colin Fiske

The Collector

June 23, 2023

Richardson Grove Project Back In Court…And You’re Invited!
Our friends at EPIC are back in court next week, still working to stop a highway expansion through Richardson Grove State Park more than 15 years after Caltrans first proposed it. CRTP has opposed this project since our founding in 2015. It’s a prime example of what we should not be doing: spending millions to design roads for the biggest fossil fuel-burning trucks rather than prioritizing projects that improve safety and access for people walking, biking, rolling and riding the bus. If you agree, you can go to the Humboldt County Courthouse at 10:15 am on Monday and show your support!

Arcata’s Commitment to Complete Streets is Tested
Last year, the Council adopted a Complete Streets Policy that requires all city street projects to include safe facilities for users of all ages and abilities, including people walking and biking. On Wednesday, the city’s commitment to this policy was tested.

On the Council’s agenda was the annual paving project, which includes repaving parts of H Street – including the block of this heavily trafficked thoroughfare (between 17th and 18th Streets) where the bike lane just disappears into a parking lane. Instead of fixing this longstanding issue as the Complete Streets Policy requires, however, the proposal was to leave the situation basically unchanged. The reason: city staff decided that maintaining 8 parking spaces was more important than ensuring a safe and uninterrupted bike network.

CRTP objected strenuously to this plan, calling for the city’s policy to be followed and the bike lane completed. After all, this is a street with four lanes for cars – two for driving and two for parking – and, on this particular block, no space at all for bikes. There is no world where that’s a “complete street.”

After some discussion, the City Council decided to put off a decision to a future meeting. We’re very glad they didn’t rubber-stamp the proposed design with no bike lane, and we’re hopeful that they’ll eventually make the right decision. But we’re also disappointed that this is even an issue. The point of the Complete Streets Policy is to take opportunities like this repaving project to improve facilities automatically and inexpensively, rather than waiting for future funding to do stand-alone projects. If implementing the policy requires a debate every time, it’s not much of a policy.

Gateway Zoning Code at the Planning Commission Again
At their last meeting, the Arcata Planning Commission heard introductory presentations about the draft code. Next Tuesday, we expect them to actually weigh in on the substance. If you want to have your voice heard, you can email the Commissioners or attend the meeting. For ideas about what to say, check out CRTP’s detailed comment letter.

State Transportation Commission to Allocate Funds for Crescent City Project
The Front Street pedestrian improvement project has been planned for a long time, and we’re excited to see that it will finally get some state funding. The Commission will also allocate funds for a number of other North Coast projects next week, including extra money to add lighting and landscaping elements to the South Broadway Complete Streets Project in Eureka.

News from Beyond the North Coast

More Money Needed for E-Bike Incentives
If the state doesn’t put more money in the budget, funds for the e-bike program will run out very quickly. Another priority for California bike advocates this week: rallying support for a bill to ban parking within 20 feet of crosswalks to improve visibility and save lives.

“How Parking Explains the World”
Check out the latest interview with Henry Grabar, who has been getting a lot of well-deserved attention lately for his new book about the insidious impacts of parking policy on almost every aspect of our lives.

Gateway Zoning Code Has Its Debut

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Colin Fiske

The Collector

June 16, 2023

Highway 101 “Safety Corridor” Projects Under Construction
The long-delayed Indianola undercrossing and the signal at Airport Road are intended to address serious safety issues on the highway between Eureka and Arcata. We note that these issues became substantially less severe after Caltrans lowered the speed limit years ago, and we hope they don’t raise it back up again when the projects are complete. Fortunately, the first major safety improvement on the corridor to be completed will be the long-awaited Bay Trail, so people walking, biking and rolling will finally have a safe path between the region’s two largest towns.

Gateway Zoning Code Has Its Debut at Arcata Planning Commission
Arcata is slowly but steadily moving toward adoption of the bike and pedestrian-friendly Gateway Plan, and this week the city’s Planning Commission was introduced to the zoning code meant to implement the plan. CRTP has reviewed the draft code, and you can read our initial detailed comments here. Short version: there’s a lot of great stuff in there, but there are still a few improvements to be made. Most of the changes we’d like to see are about doing more to encourage walkable development density and ensure a safe and inviting pedestrian realm. We also have some thoughts on car parking (stop requiring it!) and bike parking (require more and higher quality!). You can review the code and CRTP’s comments now, and then submit your own comments to the Planning Commission.

Eureka City Council to Vote On Street Policy and Funding
On Tuesday, the Council is set to vote on a budget policy for street maintenance and repair, as well as approving state funds for a citywide paving project. CRTP doesn’t object to either of these things, but we do object to the fact that neither the policy nor the paving project includes any reference to the city’s Complete Streets Policy. This policy, championed by CRTP and adopted by the Council last year, commits to including facilities for all modes of transportation in all street projects – including maintenance and repairs. (Think of taking the opportunity when repaving a street to paint new bike lanes, crosswalks, or bus stops.) This policy is a huge step for the city, and could significantly accelerate safe and sustainable transportation infrastructure. But that will only happen if they actually implement it!

News from Beyond the North Coast

Advocates Ask for Some Highway Funds to Be Spent on Transit
The good news is that the California legislature this week allocated more funding for public transit, hopefully averting an immediate cut in service from major transit agencies. But it’s not nearly enough to keep transit running in the long term, let alone improve transit systems to address equity and climate goals. Luckily, the state gets billions in federal highway dollars every year that could be spent on transit instead if state leaders chose to do so.

Yes, It’s Possible to Reduce the Amount Americans Drive
It may sometimes seem like Americans are so car-obsessed that nothing we do will stop people from driving more and more. But that’s not true! An analysis of data from the last several decades shows that driving has in fact declined in cities and states that have invested in good planning for other modes of transportation.

There’s Still Time to Fill Out the Broadway Pop-Up Survey!

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Colin Fiske

The Collector

June 9, 2023

There’s Still Time to Fill Out the Broadway Pop-Up Survey!
It’s important to show support for the kinds of bike and pedestrian safety improvements Caltrans is testing out, but also to provide critical feedback where it’s warranted. For example, we think it’s ridiculous that the proposed bike lane protection structures are made out of plastic and not designed to actually protect people on bikes from speeding cars. If you agree, take the survey or email broadwaypopups@dot.ca.gov and let Caltrans know!

Gateway Area Zoning Code Draft Released
The long-awaited form-based zoning code, which will implement the Gateway Area Plan, is now available for public review. As we’ve often said, the Gateway Plan is the most bike and pedestrian-friendly land use plan yet proposed in our region, and we’re scrutinizing the proposed zoning code to be sure it lives up to this high standard. Expect to hear more from us in the days and weeks to come. You can also check it out now and send your comments in to the Arcata Planning Commission, which will have its first discussion of the code next Tuesday.

Pedestrian Killed by Driver in Arcata
We mourn the death of Chad Macias and extend our condolences to his family and friends. Chad was killed in a hit-and-run collision on Highway 101. Despite the formal ban on walking on Highway 101 in Arcata, there is a high concentration of pedestrian fatalities, and it’s time to stop pretending people don’t walk there.

All traffic deaths are preventable, and it is a tragic state of affairs when a single county making it through one weekend without a death seems like a cause for celebration.

Free Bus Rides This Month in Arcata
If you’ve been wondering about the local bus system, this is a great opportunity to try it for free and get in the habit of using public transit! While you’re traveling around Arcata, you might also hop off the bus and onto a bikeshare bike, then let the city know about your experience.

Major Improvements Finally Coming to H, I, 6th and 7th Streets in Eureka
The much-needed bike and pedestrian safety improvements were approved years ago, and this week the city finally awarded a construction contract. These changes can’t come soon enough!

Keep on Making Those Street Story Reports!
Reports of hazards on the street, as well as near-misses and even actual collisions, help CRTP advocate for safety improvements and help local governments get safety grants. The more reports we have, the harder it is for decision-makers to ignore. You can even review reports other people have made if you want to advocate for safety improvements yourself! So make reporting on Street Story part of your routine. La versión de Street Story en español está disponible aquí.

News from Beyond the North Coast

Save California Transit!
Many transit agencies across the state face a “fiscal cliff” as pandemic-era funding expires before ridership has fully recovered. The proposed state budget does not allocate enough money to save transit systems from potential collapse. While local agencies like the Humboldt Transit Authority do not face an immediate risk, more long-term funding is still desperately needed. There is still time to contact key decision-makers to support more transit funding in the state budget.

Transportation Bills Move Forward in Sacramento
Among the many measures which passed out of the Senate or Assembly recently are bills allowing the bike rolling “safety stop” at stop signs, requiring the alignment of transportation funding with climate goals, and banning parking within 20 feet of any legal crosswalk to improve visibility and safety.

Bay Trail South Is Under Construction!

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Colin Fiske

The Collector

May 19, 2023

Editor’s Note: The Collector is on a break for the next two weeks. See you in June!

Bike Month Celebration and Expo Tomorrow
Celebrate Bike Month with a wide variety of bike-loving folks on Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm at the Jefferson Community Center in Eureka. CRTP will be providing bike valet, and we look forward to watching your bike while you enjoy the event!

And while you’re in Eureka, you can also visit the new Broadway Pop-up Demonstration Project. This project, which will stay up for about a month, demonstrates several options for protected bike lanes and pedestrian safety improvements on Broadway. Check it out and fill out the survey to give Caltrans your feedback. Results will help inform the design choices for the permanent Broadway safety improvements that CRTP has been advocating for years.

Bay Trail South Is Officially Under Construction!
It has taken decades to reach this point, but when construction is complete, Arcata and Eureka will finally be linked by a safe, comfortable facility for people walking, biking and rolling.

In other groundbreaking news (pun intended), Cal Poly Humboldt has begun construction on the big student housing project at the Craftsman Mall site in Arcata. This project will provide desperately needed housing for hundreds of students within walking distance of campus and downtown. And it will be built right on the future Annie & Mary Trail, which will soon provide connections north through Valley West and south all the way through Eureka (via the new Bay Trail South).

Proposals for Possible Transit Service Changes
A consultant for the Humboldt County Association of Governments recently published a memo laying out several proposals for changes to Humboldt County’s transit systems. Next Tuesday, you can attend a public workshop to give your feedback on the proposals (click here to register).

CRTP supports all-day transit service which is as frequent as financially feasible, bearing in mind the need for more local transit funding. Specifically, we continue to support calls for buses every 15 minutes between McKinleyville and College of the Redwoods, a major service upgrade which was not explicitly addressed in the latest memo.

However, we also support several of the service changes which are considered in the memo, including: adding express service from McKinleyville to College of the Redwoods; redesigning Eureka Transit System routes to a more efficient “hub and spoke” system; implementing microtransit services in McKinleyville and on the Samoa peninsula; and adding a new “Green Route” to the Arcata & Mad River Transit System.

Humboldt Supervisors Discuss Impact Fees, River Access
If properly designed, development impact fees could provide a more steady and predictable revenue source for public transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure (among many other things) – or they could just support more car and truck infrastructure. On Tuesday, the Supervisors directed county staff to investigate the possibilities and report back.

The Supervisors also discussed Fisher Road in Carlotta, a public access route to the Van Duzen River which has been threatened recently by the actions of private property owners. CRTP and other trail supporters are advocating to maintain public access as an important amenity for users of the future Great Redwood Trail.

News from Beyond the North Coast

Free Student Transit Pass Bill Moves Forward
AB 620, which would create a fund for free youth and college student transit pass programs, passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee this week. Another notable transportation bill which passed out of Appropriations and escaped the dreaded “suspense file” (where many bills go to die in Sacramento) was SB 50, which would prohibit police officers from stopping cars or bikes for low-level infractions and authorize unarmed civilian enforcement of traffic laws, a move CRTP strongly supports.

Who Wants to Go Back to the Office When the Commute Is So Bad?
A big part of the reason many people want to keep working remotely is that they hate long drives to and from the office. Building more compact, walkable and bikeable communities would help.

Complete Streets & Safer Fleets for Eureka?

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Colin Fiske

The Collector

May 12, 2023

More Fun Bike Month Events / Más eventos divertidos del mes de la bicicleta
Events over the next week include Sunday’s Bilingual Birding Bike Ride, a Eureka Mural Ride on Tuesday and Bike to Work Day on Thursday, and the big Bike Celebration and Expo next Saturday. We’ll see you on the streets and trails!

Los eventos de la próxima semana incluyen el paseo en bicicleta y observación de aves el domingo, un paseo en el mural Eureka el martes y el día de ir en bicicleta al trabajo el jueves, y la gran celebración y exposición de bicicletas el próximo sábado. ¡Nos vemos en las calles y senderos!

Will Eureka Move Forward with Complete Streets & Safer Fleets?
Next Tuesday, the Eureka City Council is slated to make several decisions supported by CRTP, including purchasing another property to help build the Bay to Zoo Trail and allocating some money for the C Street Bike Boulevard and for sidewalk improvements. But there are also proposed allocations for “parking improvements” and “Henderson Street improvements” with no information provided about whether these projects will include facilities for bikes, pedestrians or transit. The city recently adopted a Complete Streets Policy that requires all such projects to include safe facilities for all modes of transportation, or else justify an exception and provide an opportunity for public input. We’re putting the pressure on to ensure the city is actually following its policy on this and all other street projects.

Also on Tuesday, the Council will receive a presentation on electrification of the city’s own fleet of vehicles. CRTP supports rapid fleet electrification, but we also think it needs to be paired with vehicle safety retrofits and efforts to reduce driving by city employees. We are recommending the Council adopt RCCER’s model Safe & Sustainable Fleet policy, which does all of these things, including making a commitment to intelligent speed assistance technology that would keep city vehicles from exceeding the speed limit.

In other Eureka news, the city’s Transportation Safety Commission this week recommended significant changes to downtown parking management, including installing meters in some currently free public lots, increasing the hourly meter rate, and adjusting time limits. CRTP supports these changes, but we are advocating for the city to extend metering to curb parking as well – and to adjust rates to ensure a reasonable occupancy level and prevent cruising for free parking.

The Humboldt Transit Authority Keeps Those Buses Running
Listen to the latest EcoNews Report, featuring HTA General Manager Greg Pratt and co-hosted by CRTP Executive Director Colin Fiske, to learn more about how our local transit agency is tackling the challenges of providing service in a rural county while making plans to increase ridership and decrease emissions. Recently the agency announced another major transit grant for the region, which among many other things will help the Yurok Tribe re-start bus service between Willow Creek, Weitchpec and Orleans.

If you’re not yet a local transit rider, there’s another chance to start next week with 350 Humboldt’s latest Bus Adventure! These excursions are “a chance to get comfortable with public transit while meeting new people, chatting with old friends, doing something positive for climate change and exploring parts of our community.” Next Wednesday (5/17), the group encourages you to ride the bus to Blue Ox Millworks at 1st and X in Eureka. The group will meet at Blue Ox at 11am, tour the facility (self -guided, $15/person), and then have lunch or snacks (bring your own) at the picnic tables and take a walk on the Bay Trail. There are even free single-ride bus passes available for those who need them! Email Cathy at cathyck@sbcglobal.net with questions and to RSVP.

News from Beyond the North Coast

Will EVs Make Americans Even More Parking-Obsessed?
For EV owners without their own driveways or garages, the hunt for a prime parking space – one with a charging station – and the need to move the vehicle after it’s charged could focus even more attention on the problems of vehicle storage. But is it even even possible for Americans to become more obsessed with parking than we already are? Regardless, EVs clearly won’t solve all the problems caused by cars. Federal parking reform can’t come soon enough.

Biased Crash Reporting Standards Lead to Biased Crash Data
National standards used by law enforcement to report car crash data have long distracted from crucial street design problems and fed into victim-blaming narratives about people walking and biking. Those standards could soon get even worse if advocates are not successful in their reform efforts.

Supervisors Agree to Study Public Transit Funding

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Colin Fiske

The Collector

May 5, 2023

Bike Month Continues / Continúa el mes de la bicicleta
Don’t forget that May is Bike Month! Next week’s events include the Arcata Bike to Work Day on Thursday (including a free morning Energizer Station and a Noon Rally), a bike-thru breakfast on Friday, and a bike rodeo on Saturday. And on Sunday the 14th, CRTP is sponsoring a Bilingual Birding Bike Ride in Arcata with the Northcoast Environmental Center and Moon Cycles. Click here for more information and to register.

¡No olvides que mayo es el mes de la bicicleta! Los eventos de la próxima semana incluyen el día de ir al trabajo en bicicleta de Arcata el jueves (que incluye una estación Energizer gratuita por la mañana y un rally al mediodía), un desayuno en bicicleta el viernes y un rodeo en bicicleta el sábado. Y el domingo 14, unirse a CRTP, Northcoast Environmental Center y Moon Cycles para un paseo en bicicleta bilingüe de observación de aves en Arcata. Haga clic aquí para obtener más información y para registrarse.

Supervisors Agree to Study Public Transit Funding
This week, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors were scheduled to discuss how to raise more money for county roads. We know the roads are in bad shape. But public transit needs investment too, and we’re not about to let all the available money go to support sprawling car infrastructure. So CRTP stepped up, along with our members and supporters, putting pressure on the Supervisors to identify local funding for transit, not just roads. And the Supervisors responded: when they created a new committee to study funding sources and authorized public opinion polling, they specified that they would “include public transportation with that.” This vote marks the first step toward a dedicated local source of transit funding, which could have a huge positive impact on the regional transit system. Thanks to everyone who took action!

Although it got far less attention, the Supervisors also approved plans for sidewalk accessibility improvements in the McKinleyville and Arcata areas, and awarded a contract to improve bike and pedestrian infrastructure for kids going to school in McKinleyville.

Strategic Visioning for the City of Eureka
Today and tomorrow, the City Council is holding strategic visioning workshops. Does your vision for the city, like CRTP’s, include walkable, affordable housing? Better public transit? Improved bike infrastructure? Ambitious climate action? Whatever you want to see, you can let the Council know!

Unfortunately, some people seem to be envisioning the city as just a series of places to store their cars. That’s what we take away from yet another lawsuit filed by local conservative billionaire Rob Arkley and friends, which seeks to stop downtown affordable housing in order to preserve a parking lot, all while asserting bogus claims about environmental impacts. CRTP continues to advocate against this blatant abuse of environmental law, and more broadly against the inequitable, unsustainable, car-centric vision of the future that it represents.

Another Step Toward a Unified Regional Transit System
This week, the Arcata City Council voted to hand over most of the operations of the Arcata & Mad River Transit System (AMRTS) to the Humboldt Transit Authority. It has long been difficult to justify running the small AMRTS system independently, and the city has struggled to keep up routes and retain drivers. CRTP supports an efficient, coordinated regional system with easy transfers, and we think this is a good step in that direction.

News from Beyond the North Coast

If There’s So Much Parking, Why Can I Never Find a Space?
A new podcast episode provides a great introduction to the ins and outs of parking policy. If you’ve ever searched for parking and wondered why the solution isn’t just to build more of it, we highly encourage you to give this a listen.

We’re Gonna Need More Money for Those E-Bike Subsidies
Despite being authorized several years ago, state e-bike rebates have yet to be released. But advocates already know that if more money isn’t appropriated soon, the program won’t last long after it’s launched.

May Is Bike Month – Take the Pledge to Pedal!

Posted on April 28, 2023 by Colin Fiske

The Collector

April 28, 2023

May is Bike Month. Take the Pledge to Pedal!
Bike Month is an annual celebration of biking as a fun, healthy, sustainable mode of transportation, and a way to encourage new people to get out on their bikes. This year, CRTP and the Bike Month Humboldt Coalition are encouraging people to sign a “pledge to pedal.” You can customize your pledge, whether it’s to join one of the many scheduled events or to take a trip by bike that you would normally take by car. And while you’re on the website, don’t miss the calendar. The featured event next week: Wednesday is National Walk, Roll or Bike to School Day!

Let’s Invest in Public Transit
Check out today’s op-ed from CRTP in the Lost Coast Outpost about the need for more local investment in the transit system. We’re excited and proud that local transit agencies keep getting state grants like the one this week, which will help fund the transition to zero-emission buses and build a much-needed transit center in Crescent City. But if we want really high-quality transit service, we’re going to have to invest local dollars too.

The Kind of Development Environmentalists Support
We like walkable, transit-oriented infill development – especially affordable housing on underused parking lots! Listen to this week’s EcoNews Report for much more on this topic. And if you know an affordable housing developer who might be interested in the opportunities currently available in Eureka, check out the city’s requests for proposals here.

Better Bike Parking for the McKinleyville Town Center
Our years of advocacy for a walkable, bikeable Town Center plan continue to have an impact! This week, members of the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee unanimously supported improving standards for secure, weather-protected, short-term and long-term bike parking in the Town Center ordinance.

Victims of Eureka High-Speed Car Chase Need Help
We’ve said it many times before: high-speed police chases are notorious for injuring and killing bystanders (not to mention police and suspects). In this case, the suspects crashed their truck into another vehicle, critically injuring its occupants. Earlier, their vehicle had hit and severely injured a pedestrian. These outcomes are tragically predictable. So why are dangerous high-speed chases still allowed by local law enforcement agencies?

When Was the Last Time You Made a Report on Street Story?
Reports of hazards on the street, as well as near-misses and even actual collisions, help CRTP advocate for safety improvements and help local governments get safety grants. The more reports we have, the harder it is for decision-makers to ignore. You can even review reports other people have made if you want to advocate for safety improvements yourself! So make reporting on Street Story part of your routine. La versión de Street Story en español está disponible aquí.

News from Beyond the North Coast

Bike Safety Stop Bill Passes Transportation Committee (Again)
For the third year in a row, the bill allowing adult bicyclists to yield (instead of coming to a complete stop) at stop signs is moving through the legislature. Research has shown that this common-sense measure can actually increase safety, but the governor has vetoed it each of the last two years.

Pedestrian Fatality Data for 2021 Are Finally Released. It’s Really Bad.
Nationally, deaths increased by double-digit percentages. The problem is even greater in Black and Latinx neighborhoods. What will it take for policy makers to start taking this crisis seriously?

Join CRTP for an Earth Day Bike Ride!

Posted on April 21, 2023 by Colin Fiske

The Collector

April 21, 2023

Earth Day Bike Ride with CRTP Tomorrow!
This is the first in a series of rides we’re sponsoring with the Northcoast Environmental Center and local bike shop Moon Cycles. The ride is free and open to all, but is particularly aimed at folks who have a bike but feel a little uncomfortable getting out there and using it for transportation. If that sounds like you, join us! You’ll learn about basic bike safety and maintenance, infrastructure and route finding, and get to experience a ride with a bunch of like-minded friends and neighbors. You can also find CRTP tomorrow at the Decolonizing Economics Summit Earth Day Celebration.

Arcata Planning Commission Meeting Marathon Continues
Tomorrow (Saturday) at 8:30 am, the Commission holds a special meeting to discuss issues around the Gateway Area form-based code. Then on Tuesday, they will meet again to discuss parts of the General Plan update, along with concerns about building height and associated shading in the Gateway area. And then on Thursday they’ll meet yet again, this time focused on transportation issues in the General Plan and Gateway Area Plan.

Here are CRTP’s top-line recommendations for each of these meetings: On Saturday, the Commission should confirm that projects that comply with objective Gateway Plan requirements will receive by-right (“ministerial”) approval. This will ensure that developments are consistent with the community’s priorities while avoiding the unproductive, years-long reviews faced by projects like The Village. On Tuesday, the Commission should confirm the need for taller buildings to allow walkable, transit-supportive residential density in the Gateway Area. On Thursday, the Commission should adopt new General Plan policies that support their decision to “de-prioritize” car infrastructure, and commit to public transit improvements.

If you want to provide comments to the Planning Commission on any of these topics but would like more information, email us!

CRTP Member Meeting on Monday
On Monday at 5:30 pm, we’ll be holding a Member Meeting on Zoom featuring a presentation by Humboldt County Planning Director John Ford about the McKinleyville Town Center. If you’re a CRTP member, you should have received an email with a registration link. (If you’re not a member yet, you can always join today!) We hope to see you there.

Humboldt’s Air is Pretty Clean – But Not for Lack of Driving
Cars and trucks are the number one source of health-harming air pollution. Thankfully, Humboldt’s topography, weather, and relatively small population have so far allowed us to avoid air pollution levels seen elsewhere in California. But that doesn’t mean our region is immune from the health effects of tailpipe emissions! Those dangerous chemicals are still spewing into the faces of nearby people walking, biking and rolling, and even into people’s own cars.

Raise a Glass for CRTP!
For one more week (until the end of April), when you buy a Champagne violette cocktail at Phatsy Kline’s in Eureka, part of the proceeds will go to support CRTP. Enjoy – and please transport yourself responsibly to and from the bar!

Add Your Reports to Street Story!
Local residents have now made more than 1,000 reports on Street Story in Humboldt County alone. Most of the reports are for hazards, near misses and crashes – but a few safe spots have been reported too. Join your friends and neighbors and start making your reports today! La versión de Street Story en español está disponible aquí.

News from Beyond the North Coast

Biden Administration Drops Climate Priorities from Highway Fund Guidelines
Does this mean a return to the bad old days of massive highway building at the expense of safety and the planet?

New Federal Rules Will Require A Lot More Electric Cars
Meanwhile, California is hitting its EV sales targets early. We’re all in favor of getting rid of fossil-powered vehicles. But the only real way to avoid environmental catastrophe is for new EVs to start getting a lot smaller – and for Americans to just start buying a lot fewer cars.

Arcata Planning Commission Takes Steps to “De-prioritize” Car Infrastructure

Posted on April 14, 2023 by Colin Fiske

The Collector

April 14, 2023

Arcata Planning Commission Takes Steps to “De-prioritize” Car Infrastructure
The headline from this week’s meeting was that the Commission voted to keep the proposed L/K Street couplet as a goal in the Gateway Plan. But they also expressed unanimous support for more near-term safety improvements to K Street. Making K Street safe for everybody has always been CRTP’s priority in this debate, and although the options presented by city staff this week do not go nearly far enough, the Planning Commission’s discussion opens the door for a more significant re-design.

With CRTP’s encouragement, the Planning Commission also made some other decisions which got less attention but may be even more significant in the long run. For example, the Commission voted to recommend new citywide policies prioritizing accessible design for people with disabilities, and exploring the possibility of a smart parking meter system downtown. (Smart meters could reduce the subsidy for driving, support businesses by increasing turnover, and create a new funding source for public transit.) They also voted to “de-prioritize” management for traffic congestion, and to view congestion as a potential asset for calming traffic and encouraging other modes of transportation, rather than a problem to be avoided. Other changes to the General Plan will be needed to follow through on this commitment, but the vote signals a major and much-needed shift from outdated, car-centric approaches of the past.

If you want to be part of the positive changes happening in Arcata, you might consider applying to be on the city’s Transportation Safety Committee. Two long-term members are leaving, creating new opportunities for you to serve and have your voice heard on key local issues.

Grab a Cocktail to Support CRTP!
During the month of April, Phatsy Kline’s in Eureka is supporting CRTP. Just purchase one of their specially made Champagne violette cocktails, and part of the proceeds will be donated to CRTP. And don’t forget to walk or ride the bus home if you can – or at least have a designated driver!

Regional Climate Action Plan Meetings TODAY & Next Tuesday
The Humboldt County regional Climate Action Plan is moving toward adoption at a snail’s pace. Meanwhile, new virtual public meetings have been announced for today (Friday) at 3 pm and next Tuesday at 2 pm. It’s likely that some attendees will be trying to convince the county to adopt less ambitious targets, including for low-carbon transportation. Transportation accounts for more than half of local climate pollution, and we desperately need smart policies to support more walkable development, better public transit, and infrastructure for walking, biking and rolling. So if you’re free, log on and support ambitious climate action! To find the Zoom info, click here, scroll to the bottom, and click on the “CAP Working Group” tab.

People Aren’t the Only Ones Threatened by Cars
In recent months, three otters have been killed by drivers in the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary. Will the city take these fatalities seriously and take steps to slow traffic or ban cars from South I Street altogether? We hope so. We also hope they will start responding more quickly and seriously to the cases of human victims of traffic violence in town.

News from Beyond the North Coast

One Easy Step to Make Vehicles Much Safer
Intelligent speed assistance is a commercially available technology that uses GPS to identify the local speed limit and then prevents a car or truck from speeding. It can easily be added to existing vehicles. Now a national advocacy organization is challenging public agencies to retrofit their fleets. We think it’s time for local governments on the North Coast to adopt this common-sense, life-saving technology, and set an example for other drivers on the road.

Parking Reform Helps Get Housing Built
Case studies from two very different cities demonstrate that most of the housing built after parking mandates were repealed would not have been allowed before the reforms. Unscientific and costly requirements just force the construction of way too much parking!

What Is a “Complete Street,” Anyway?
Complete streets are supposed to be safe for people walking, biking or rolling – including kids and people with disabilities. But sadly the term is often applied to poorly designed projects that continue to prioritize cars while giving other users little real consideration. The result is a lot of self-congratulatory back-slapping while people continue to die on the streets. CRTP is aware that no project is perfect, and often compromise is necessary in order to see safety improvements actually implemented. But we will always advocate for the best, safest, evidence-based designs in every plan and project.