The Collector
February 2, 2024
CRTP Intervenes in Anti-Housing Lawsuit
CRTP has successfully petitioned a local court to intervene in litigation filed last year by a group called “Citizens for a Better Eureka” (CBE) against Eureka’s efforts to build affordable housing on downtown parking lots. After the court granted CRTP’s permission to intervene, CRTP filed an opposition to CBE’s motion for preliminary injunction which if granted, would delay and potentially jeopardize currently planned affordable housing projects including millions of dollars to support both the development of housing, and other community benefits including transit passes, pedestrian safety features, transit improvements for the neighborhood, and impactful programs like workforce development and homelessness prevention.
CRTP has long advocated for prioritizing housing for people over storage for cars, and we have fought for years to protect and strengthen the city’s plans to build much-needed affordable housing and a multi-modal transit center on some downtown parking lots.
The City’s plan to make city owned property available for the development of affordable housing is part of its legally required housing element plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in Eureka. The need for affordable housing in California is immense. Eureka is home to approximately 3,060 extremely and very low income households, and there are nearly 500 people in Eureka experiencing unsheltered homelessness on any given night. The City’s plan, which this lawsuit threatens, is well on its way to making a meaningful impact in our community, and 218 affordable homes near public transit are already in the works as part of this project.
The California Attorney General’s office has also filed a request with the court to file briefs in defense of the city’s housing plans.
There’s Still Time to Apply to Work at CRTP!
The new Outreach Specialist will focus on promoting Street Story and on organizing for improved transit service in our region. The Outreach Specialist will help increase transportation equity and street safety and take action for the climate at the same time! Applications are due next Wednesday.
Environmental Documents for Arcata Plans Now Available for Review
An Environmental Impact Report analyzing the city’s Gateway Plan and zoning code, along with other updates to the city’s General Plan, is now available for the public to review and provide comments. CRTP is still reviewing the document, but we remain confident that these plans, if approved in their current form, will have a major positive impact on the environment by increasing walkability, bikeability, and transit-friendly development.
Supervisors Approve McKinleyville Housing Project with Some Changes
We’re pleased that more housing is being built within walking, biking and rolling distance of the future Town Center and transit hub, and that the project includes a few pedestrian upgrades and traffic calming measures. However, we are disappointed that some neighbors objected to housing that is far less dense than even current zoning rules allow, and that Supervisors responded by reducing the number of units that could be built. Increased density in the Town Center area will be necessary to support both walkability and improved transit service in the future.
Consultant Selected for Bay-to-Zoo Trail Project
When complete, the Bay to Zoo Trail will connect downtown with the Hospital District and the Sequoia Park Zoo. Next Tuesday, the Eureka City Council is slated to approve a contract with a consultant to keep this important project moving forward. The project is mostly funded by a state grant, but a lot more work needs to be done before the city can start construction.
Street Story Reports Make a Difference
Local planners, advocates, grant writers and committees review Street Story reports when making decisions about safety improvements. Your reports are important! Make a report every time you experience a near-miss, a crash, or a hazardous location – or report a place you feel safe. La versión de Street Story en español está disponible aquí.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Minneapolis Is Piloting a Secure Bike Parking Program
The availability of secure, weather-protected bike storage is critical to encourage people to ride for transportation – especially as more and more people turn to e-bikes.
A Bill in Congress Could Provide Much-Needed Transit Funding
Historically, federal transit funding has failed to provide adequate support for frequent, high-quality service in communities across the country. A new bill aims to fix some of those problems, and North Coast Representative Jared Huffman is a co-sponsor. But its approval in a divided Congress is far from assured.
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.