The Collector
April 18, 2025
Transit Funding Decision Expected Next Week
At the time of this writing, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors has not yet published their agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting. But we are expecting that the meeting will include a vote on how much of the new Measure O sales tax revenue should go to support public transit. If you need some background on this issue, give a listen to the latest EcoNews Report.
As you can see from the chart, the amount we’re asking for represents a big boost for transit, but it’s only a tiny fraction of what the county spends on roads. Unfortunately, some people are still saying that transit shouldn’t get anything at all. If you haven’t called or emailed the supervisors yet to show your support for Measure O transit funding, please do it today. You can find their contact information by clicking here. And if you’re free on Tuesday, come on out to the meeting and speak up in person!
Earth Day Rally & Safe Routes to School
Next Tuesday is not just the anticipated Measure O transit funding decision day – it’s also Earth Day! Now more than ever, we need to show our support for strong environmental action, locally and globally. Join 350 Humboldt, the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Climate Action Campaign, and CRTP for an Earth Day rally on the Arcata Plaza at 4:45 pm. Speakers will include Humboldt County Supervisor Natalie Arroyo and EPIC Climate Attorney Matt Simmons.
After the rally, you can head over to Fuente Nueva Charter School to hear some updates and provide input on local plans to improve safety for kids walking and biking to school. The community workshop, sponsored by the City of Arcata and the Humboldt County Association of Governments, starts at 5:30 pm and includes light dinner and childcare.
Public Meeting on State Route 255 Corridor Management Plan
Caltrans has developed a draft corridor management plan for State Route 255, which connects Eureka and Arcata via the Samoa Bridges and the Samoa Peninsula. The plan includes a refreshing new focus on bike and pedestrian safety, but still leaves a lot to be desired. Most notably, it does not include a clear vision for adding safe bike and pedestrian facilities to the Samoa Bridges. Check out CRTP’s full comments on the plan here.
You can weigh in on the future of State Route 255 at a public meeting hosted by Caltrans at the Manila Community Center, next Thursday at 5:30 pm. You can also provide feedback via a form at the end of the online plan.
Discussion of Hiller Road Quick-Build Safety Project
We expect next week’s meeting of the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee to include a discussion of plans for the new quick-build bike and pedestrian safety project on Hiller Road, which the committee has been working on with Humboldt County Public Works staff since last year. To see what the county is proposing, you can join the meeting next Wednesday. Information about the meeting will be posted here.
We also expect the meeting to include a discussion of the draft Environmental Impact Report for the McKinleyville Town Center zoning ordinance. That report was published last week, and CRTP is currently reviewing it.
Public Hearing on Waterfront Eureka Plan
The Waterfront Eureka Plan, which the city began developing in 2023, will help govern future development in Old Town, the Library District, and along the adjacent waterfront. The Eureka Planning Commission will consider a new draft of the plan at a special meeting next Wednesday at 5:30 pm. CRTP generally supports the plan, which will build on the dense, mixed-use character of these neighborhoods and encourage more walkable, bikeable development. If you want to dive into the details, you can read the comments we submitted this week with the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) and Humboldt Waterkeeper.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Dangerous Drivers Keep Their Licenses, with Tragic Results
A disturbing new investigation from CalMatters reveals that state courts and the Department of Motor Vehicles often allow dangerous drivers to keep their licenses, even after they have killed someone. Research shows that a small number of drivers is often responsible for a disproportionate number of serious crashes, and we think it’s clear those people should not have licenses.
For dangerous drivers who are allowed to keep their licenses – or who drive without one – AB 981, currently being debated in the California legislature, would allow judges to order the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices to prevent their vehicles from speeding. While this wouldn’t fix all dangerous driving, it would certainly help make the streets safer.
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.