The Collector
July 21, 2023
Walkability Expert Arrives in Humboldt Tomorrow
Dan Burden will be in Humboldt County tomorrow (7/22) through Tuesday (7/25) looking at walkability and bikeability in many local communities. Click here for an updated schedule, which includes new events in Eureka and Manila. This is a great opportunity to bring more attention to the critical local transportation issues CRTP works on every day. We hope to see you out there at some of the events!
Eureka Council Awards Affordable Housing Project to Wiyot Tribe
Conservative billionaire Rob Arkley and his cronies, not content with suing the city to block walkable, affordable downtown housing, recently announced they’re also trying to stop the city’s plans with a ballot initiative. Don’t be fooled by the Orwellian “Housing for All” language – this is just another cynical ploy to preserve excessive parking at the expense of much-needed housing and transit improvements. In addition to blocking future projects, the initiative even attempts to wind back the clock and rescind approvals the city has already given to build affordable housing projects and the EaRTH Center.
We’re happy to report that this week the Eureka City Council ignored these bullying tactics and awarded the right to build housing on two more downtown lots to the Wiyot Tribe’s Dishgamu Community Land Trust. Thanks to all of CRTP’s members and supporters who spoke up in favor of this project and asked the city to choose Dishgamu! The Council’s decision moves forward affordable, walkable housing with many transportation amenities, and also acknowledges the critical role the Wiyot Tribe continues to play in stewarding the local land and community.
At the same meeting, the City Council also approved changes to downtown parking management, including increased meter rates and a moderate expansion of metered parking. This is a step toward better management, and marks a slight reduction in the public subsidy for driving downtown.
Harbor District Kicks Off Port Development Environmental Review
The prospect of producing a lot of renewable energy off our coast is exciting, but port development will come with significant impacts. CRTP is working with our allies to advocate for a zero-emission port, as well as for bike, pedestrian, and transit improvements to the surrounding roads and communities.
Roundabouts in Fortuna?
Conceptual designs for roundabouts at several major intersections and interchanges were recently published online. While roundabouts usually make intersections safer for drivers, they often present challenges for people walking, biking, and rolling, and particularly for sight-impaired pedestrians. CRTP only supports roundabouts if they come with effective design for safe navigation by all users. The current Fortuna roundabout concepts seem to have incomplete bike and pedestrian facilities and high exposure to moving vehicles, raising substantial concerns about safe and comfortable use by people walking, biking or rolling.
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
Access to Hiking Trails Without a Personal Vehicle
With good planning, parks and natural areas can be accessed by public transit and other modes of transportation.
30-Year Sentence in Deadly Distracted Driving Case
What does justice look like for distracted drivers who kill with their cars?
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.