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! You can submit items for consideration, or just enjoy the news collection!
Simpler, Lower Fares for Humboldt County Buses
The Collector
October 18, 2024
Simpler, Lower Fares for Humboldt County Buses
A few weeks ago, the Humboldt Transit Authority Board of Directors approved a comprehensive new fare structure. Fares for almost all bus rides throughout the system will now be $2, while day passes good on all systems are $5, week passes are $15, and month passes are $50. This represents a reduction in fares for most riders, and makes the fare structure much simpler and more equitable (it now costs the same whether you pay with cash or card, for example). The changes have already been implemented on most routes and will be fully implemented by November 1st. The only exception is the Arcata & Mad River Transit System (AMRTS), which will still have lower-cost day and month passes good only on Arcata buses (but the systemwide passes will still work on AMRTS buses too!).
Join a Walking Tour Saturday in South Arcata to Provide Input on Safety Improvements
The City of Arcata is hosting a tour of the South Arcata Multimodal Safety Improvement Project area this Saturday from 9 am to noon. The project aims to improve safety for walking and biking in the notoriously dangerous Samoa Boulevard/US-101 interchange, as well as other parts of Samoa Boulevard and South G Street. If you can’t make the tour, there are other ways to provide input on the project website and on Street Story.
Reflections on the Week Without Driving
In the latest episode of the EcoNews Report, Arcata City Councilmember Sarah Schaefer and Humboldt County Association of Governments Executive Director Beth Burks join CRTP’s Colin Fiske and EPIC’s Tom Wheeler to discuss experiences participating in the Week Without Driving. You can also check out some reflections from local Week Without Driving participants here.
More Information on the Status of Humboldt Bay Trail Construction
As we reported previously, the projected completion date of the long-awaited trail between Arcata and Eureka has been pushed back to May 2025. A new story in the Lost Coast Outpost includes additional information about the reasons for the delay and updates on all the work that’s been done so far.
Check Out a Recording of Our Street Story Training on Our YouTube Channel!
Our Outreach Specialist, Kelsey, has been out in the community providing Street Story presentations to local agencies and organizations. The presentation provides information about Street Story, why it’s important and how to utilize it in the community. Now it has been recorded! We are excited to provide this resource for folks to use in their future street safety efforts! Click here to watch the presentation, then check out the rest of our YouTube channel and subscribe to future videos. And don’t forget to make your Street Story reports!
Bike Repair Basics for Femmes and Thems
Humboldt’s local queer-owned bike shop Moon Cycles will be offering a series of workshops this fall on bike repair basics for people who identify as femme or non-binary. If that’s you, we encourage you to check it out!
News from Beyond the North Coast
It’s Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Messages Are Depressingly Predictable
As we have commented before, most of the public messaging telling pedestrians how to (theoretically) be safe from speeding drivers is unhelpful, and constitutes a subtle form of victim-blaming. This Pedestrian Safety Month, safety expert Angie Schmitt comments on some of the most common (and pointless, and kinda insulting) messages public agencies direct toward pedesetrians. After reading her piece, check out the Eureka Police Department’s pedestrian safety message and see how it measures up.
Speed Cameras Don’t Have the Same Biases as Police Officers
The fact that police officers pull over people of color more often than white drivers is well documented, as are the tragic consequences that sometimes result from escalations of these traffic stops. A new study finds that speed cameras do not share these human biases – nor, obviously, the potential for violence – and may therefore be a key strategy to enforce traffic safety laws in a more equitable way.
Car Dependency Can Make Natural Disasters Worse
For one thing, people who can’t drive but live in car-dominated landscapes often find it very difficult to evacuate ahead of major storms or fires.
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 to Take Next Step to Fully Integrate Transit Systems
The Collector
October 11, 2024
Arcata to Take Next Step to Fully Integrate Transit Systems
At its regular meeting next Wednesday, the Arcata City Council is poised to begin the process of transferring ownership of its Arcata & Mad River Transit System (AMRTS) buses to the Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA). HTA has been providing drivers, maintenance and scheduling for the AMRTS buses for the last couple of years. CRTP supports fully integrating the Arcata system into HTA, which will allow more efficient operations and should also support efforts to make the entire local transit network more seamless and understandable for riders.
More on Those Local Ballot Measures
Rob Arkley is dumping even more money into the Measure F campaign, powering a flood of disinformation in mailboxes, on billboards and online. The mortgage loan tycoon has now spent over $1.5 million to convince Eurekans to block the development of downtown housing and a transit center in favor of maintaining some parking spaces that he and his employees like to use, all while lying that it’s a “pro-housing” measure. Meanwhile, a top state housing official has weighed in to explain the potentially dire consequences of passing Measure F, and the North Coast Journal editorial board took a strong stand against the measure. CRTP urges Eurekans to vote No on F.
Advertising has also begun ramping up in support of Measure O, the countywide sales tax measure. While the ads focus almost entirely on roads, CRTP and our allies secured a promise from Humboldt County supervisors that some of the money would also go to support transit. You can be sure that if Measure O passes, we will be working to ensure the supervisors keep that promise, and also that road spending helps improve safety for all road users rather than just maintaining the dangerous status quo.
Check Out a Recording of Our Street Story Training on Our YouTube Channel!
Our Outreach Specialist, Kelsey, has been out in the community providing Street Story presentations to local agencies and organizations. The presentation provides information about Street Story, why it’s important and how to utilize it in the community. Now it has been recorded! We are excited to provide this resource for folks to use in their future street safety efforts! Click here to watch the presentation, then check out the rest of our YouTube channel and subscribe to future videos. And don’t forget to make your Street Story reports!
Local Environmental Group Makes Endorsements
The Redwood Coalition for Climate and Environmental Responsibility (RCCER) has endorsed candidates in several local Humboldt County races and taken positions on Measure F and two statewide ballot measures.
News from Beyond the North Coast
More About Those New State Laws
Check out CalBike’s handy summary to get some of the highlights of new bike and pedestrian-friendly laws from this year’s legislative session.
Longer Crosswalks Are More Dangerous
A new study provides quantitative support for the common-sense conclusion that longer crosswalks are more dangerous for pedestrians.
Why Won’t US Regulators Allow Automakers to Sell Small Cars?
Counterproductive US “safety” rules let massive pick-up trucks and SUVs onto American streets with no problem, but balk at extra-small, low-speed vehicles. Consequently, mini-cars which are popular in much of the rest of the world and can dramatically improve safety on city streets are illegal to sell in this country.
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.
Local Ballot Measures Could Impact Walkability, Transit and More
The Collector
October 4, 2024
Local Ballot Measures Could Impact Walkability, Transit and More
Humboldt County voters will soon be receiving their ballots in the mail. Three local ballot measures deserve particular attention from voters concerned about safe, sustainable and equitable transportation.
As we have reported previously, Eureka’s Measure F is an attempt to block the city from building affordable housing and a transit center on underused downtown parking lots. This measure weaponizes parking in an attempt to stop the construction of desperately needed homes for local people and a transit hub that would improve local and regional bus service and help revitalize downtown. It could also result in the city losing access to millions in crucial state funds and possibly losing control of its own land use regulations. CRTP opposes Measure F and encourages Eureka voters to vote no.
Humboldt County’s Measure O proposes a new, countywide 1% sales tax, and Arcata’s Measure H proposes a new 0.75% sales tax within city limits. Both are “general taxes,” meaning that in theory the revenue could be spent on anything the county (Measure O) or the city (Measure H) chooses. However, the Board of Supervisors and the Arcata City Council have both promised to spend revenues only on specific lists of eligible uses, and thanks to advocacy from CRTP and our allies, the lists for both measures include public transit. The Measure H list also includes bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
Of the two measures, Measure O would bring in far more revenue. And while the Supervisors promised to spend most of it on roads, they also promised an unspecified but significant amount to support bus services. If only ten or twenty percent of the expected revenues were dedicated to transit, that would represent roughly a twenty-five or fifty percent increase in the Humboldt Transit Authority budget, which could allow transformative improvements in local bus service. CRTP has not taken an official position on Measure O or Measure H.
Fatal Crash on Harris Street
Two drivers struck a man crossing the street on a mobility scooter last week in Eureka. According to police, the first driver knocked the man off his scooter, while the second hit and killed him. We grieve the loss of another member of the community on our streets, and our thoughts are with the friends and family of the victim.
The statement issued by police indicates that visibility issues caused by the sun being in drivers’ eyes contributed to the crash. If the drivers’ visibility was so limited that they could not see a pedestrian in time to stop and avoid a crash, that suggests that they were exceeding a safe speed for the conditions. Yet the police statement also says that speed “does not appear to be a factor.” And the statement says the victim was “outside of a crosswalk and away from the intersection,” which implies that the victim was at fault and would have been safe if crossing in a crosswalk.
In fact, this is known to be a dangerous area for pedestrians, in crosswalks or not. Street Story reports indicate that cars routinely fail to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks in the area, and one report relays an incident in which a person in a wheelchair was hit by a driver in a crosswalk. A neighbor who knew the victim in last week’s crash told a Times-Standard reporter that nobody feels safe crossing Harris in that area, and people with cars often drive across the street to the grocery store to avoid having to cross as a pedestrian.
Crashes on streets that are known to be dangerous are not “accidents,” and pedestrians who are killed by drivers are not to blame for their own deaths. We know that safe street design leads to slower cars and less lethal outcomes, and the city of Eureka thankfully has taken steps to improve safety on other streets. To save lives and prevent future tragedies, we must go further. It’s time for comprehensive changes to our streets and to our pedestrian victim-blaming culture.
Humboldt Bay Trail Won’t Be Finished Until Spring
An update on the county’s website indicates that trail construction between Arcata and Eureka is now expected to wrap up by May 2025. Hopes had been high for the long-awaited trail to be completed this fall, but we are all now looking forward to walking, biking and rolling on it next spring.
Supervisors Reduce Parking Requirements for Some New Housing
A new Humboldt County ordinance aims to implement a state law allowing homes to be built on land zoned for commercial development. We are happy to report that, following months of advocacy from CRTP, the Board of Supervisors made a few changes before approving the ordinance this week. Specifically, they removed parking mandates for new housing within half a mile of a bus stop and incentivized building in already-developed areas. These changes will help ensure that the new ordinance supports affordable, walkable housing instead of more sprawl.
It’s the Week Without Driving!
This week is the national Week Without Driving. Thanks to everyone who has taken the pledge to get around this week without getting behind the wheel. We’ll be sharing some reflections from participants after the week is over.
And thanks to the 20+ people who showed up to our first walk audit on Wednesday! Whether or not you’ve participated in the Week Without Driving so far, you are invited to join CRTP and our partners for our next walk audit on Saturday from 5 to 6 pm, starting at 5th and O Streets in Eureka. (We’ll be done in time for you to head on over to Arts Alive!)
Check Out a Recording of Our Street Story Training on Our YouTube Channel!
Our Outreach Specialist, Kelsey, has been out in the community providing Street Story presentations to local agencies and organizations. The presentation provides information about Street Story, why it’s important and how to utilize it in the community. Now it has been recorded! We are excited to provide this resource for folks to use in their future street safety efforts! Click here to watch the presentation, then check out the rest of our YouTube channel and subscribe to future videos. And don’t forget to make your Street Story reports!
Get Your Tickets for Our Mosaics with Mir Fundraiser!
Join CRTP and local artist Mir de Silva on Thursday, October 10th for a mosaic-making workshop at Six Rivers Brewery in McKinleyville! All mosaic supplies will be included and all ticket proceeds benefit the work of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities. We look forward to crafting a safer, greener future with you! Click here to buy tickets.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Newsom Signs Caltrans Complete Streets Bill
While Caltrans has started taking non-drivers into account in recent years, the agency has not always lived up to its promises to provide safe and convenient facilities for people walking, biking or riding the bus. The new law will require Caltrans to set specific targets for active transportation and transit facilities and increase accountability for meeting those targets. Since our region’s most dangerous roads are state highways, this is a big deal for the North Coast.
Unfortunately, while the governor signed the complete streets bill, his record on transportation safety continues to be mixed. For example, he vetoed a bill that would have required automakers to alert drivers when they dramatically exceed the speed limit. While the original bill would have required technology that actively slowed speeding vehicles, it was watered down in the legislature to require a mere driver alert – but even that was apparently a step too far for Governor Newsom.
Electric Vehicles Really Are Better Than Gas-Powered Ones
At CRTP, our focus is on reducing the amount of driving in our region and getting more folks safely walking, biking and riding the bus. All cars and trucks have huge environmental and social costs, regardless of how they are powered. But we are under no illusion that people will stop driving entirely, and to avoid climate chaos it’s critical that whatever driving is done in the future is done in zero-emission vehicles. Unfortunately, a growing number of Americans believe that EVs are worse than gas cars for the environment – something that’s just not true.
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.
Next Week Is the Week Without Driving!
The Collector
September 27, 2024
Progress Toward Hiller Road Safety Improvements
This week, the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee (MMAC) discussed possible designs for a quick-build bike and pedestrian safety project on Hiller Road. There was widespread support for the kinds of improvements CRTP advocates for, including narrower lanes and other traffic calming features, protected bike lanes and pedestrian lanes, high-visibility crosswalks, public art, and a quick-build protected intersection at Hiller & McKinleyville Avenue. We expect final designs to be presented to the MMAC in a few months, with construction hopefully starting in the spring.
Thanks to everyone who showed up on Wednesday or emailed the MMAC with your support! If you couldn’t make it on Wednesday, you can still participate by sharing your crash, near-miss, hazard and safe place experiences on Hiller Road on Street Story! The MMAC has said they will review reports as they develop plans for the project. Get your reports in soon, and you can also make reports after the quick build has been completed to share your experience utilizing the new infrastructure. Haga clic aquí para hacer un informe en español.
Find Out More About the Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan
CRTP Executive Director Colin Fiske joins EPIC Executive Director Tom Wheeler and EPIC Climate Attorney Matt Simmons on the latest edition of the EcoNews Report to talk about the new Climate Action Plan draft, provide some context, and discuss what should happen next.
Colorful New Crosswalks in Arcata
Crosswalk art can make a place more beautiful and increase safety by slowing traffic and drawing more attention to the presence of pedestrians. Arcata’s new Cal Poly Humboldt-themed crosswalks are the first examples of crosswalk art we’re aware of in our region. We hope they’re not the last!
Get Your Tickets for Our Mosaics with Mir Fundraiser!
Join CRTP and local artist Mir de Silva on Thursday, October 10th for a mosaic-making workshop at Six Rivers Brewery in McKinleyville! All mosaic supplies will be included and all ticket proceeds benefit the work of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities. We look forward to crafting a safer, greener future with you! Click here to buy tickets.
Next Week is the Week Without Driving!
The national Week Without Driving starts on Monday. If you are a transportation decision-maker or an interested community member there’s still time to take the pledge to participate! And whether or not you take the pledge, you are invited to join CRTP and our partners for our two Week Without Driving walk audits in Eureka.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Newsom Vetoes Bill to Limit Caltrans Pesticide Use
AB 99 would have limited Caltrans’s use of roadside pesticides and herbicides and required the agency to comply with local pesticide rules. Pedestrians and bicyclists are particularly vulnerable to roadside toxics, and CRTP supported AB 99 in part to help limit their exposure. Unfortunately, the governor vetoed the bill, claiming it was unnecessary and would be too expensive to implement.
More People Bike When There Are Protected Bike Lanes
And there are fewer major crashes. Those are the findings from a recent report analyzing results in a major city (Washington, D.C.) and a smaller town (Bloomington, Indiana).
Kids Benefit from Limiting Cars
A new study finds that when restrictions on high-polluting vehicles were implemented in central London, it didn’t just reduce pollution – it also led to more kids walking and biking to school.
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.
Public Meeting Next Week on Hiller Road Safety Improvements
The Collector
September 20, 2024
Public Meeting Next Week on Hiller Road Safety Improvements
Next Wednesday at 6 pm at Azalea Hall, the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee (MMAC) will be hosting a public meeting focused on the design of future safety improvements on Hiller Road. The project will be particularly focused on bike and pedestrian safety, and at CRTP’s urging it will be a “quick-build” project, meaning that it will be built soon using low-cost materials that last a few years – providing immediate safety benefits while giving time to find money for permanent improvements. CRTP is asking for the project to include narrower lanes and other traffic calming features, protected bike lanes, high-visibility crosswalks, public art, and a quick-build protected intersection at Hiller & McKinleyville Avenue. Show up next Wednesday to have your say!
In addition to attending the meeting on Wednesday, a fantastic opportunity to share your experiences on Hiller Road is to make reports on Street Story! The MMAC has said they will review reports as they develop plans for the project. Get your reports in soon, and you can also make reports after the quick build has been completed to share your experience utilizing the new infrastructure. Haga clic aquí para hacer un informe en español.
South Broadway Complete Streets Project Nears Construction
CRTP has learned that the South Broadway Complete Streets project is on track for construction next year! This project is the result of years of advocacy by CRTP and our allies and will make one of the most dangerous stretches of road in our region much safer. CRTP continues to track the progress of the two other closely related safety projects that are planned for the rest of the Broadway corridor.
Another exciting project heading for construction in 2025 (or possibly 2026) is the long-planned Boyd Draw bike path under Highway 101 just north of Arcata’s Valley West neighborhood. The project will provide an alternate route for bicyclists and pedestrians across US 101 that avoids the Giuntoli interchange, and provide better access to the bike and pedestrian path on the Mad River highway bridge. The Humboldt County Planning Commission approved permits for the project this week.
Make Mosaics with Mir!
Join CRTP and local artist Mir de Silva on Thursday, October 10th for a mosaic-making workshop at Six Rivers Brewery in McKinleyville! All mosaic supplies will be included and all ticket proceeds benefit the work of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities. We look forward to crafting a safer, greener future with you! Click here to buy tickets.
The Week Without Driving Starts Soon!
We’re just over a week away from the second national Week Without Driving. If you are a transportation decision-maker or an interested community member there’s still time to take the pledge to participate! And whether or not you take the pledge, you are invited to join CRTP and our partners for our two Week Without Driving walk audits in Eureka.
Who Are the Real Cheaters When It Comes to Measure F?
Rob Arkley has plowed over $1 million into the ballot measure to block affordable housing on Eureka’s downtown parking lots, paying for armies of professional petitioners, marketers and canvassers. At every step, the Measure F campaign has lied and misled the public about what the measure will do. They forced the city to defend itself against an absurd (and now dismissed) lawsuit about when the vote should be held. There was even a shadowy shell company that strung along the Eureka City School Board for months in an apparent attempt to re-shape the narrative about Measure F.
Now an opponent of Measure F reports that the campaign put a “Yes on F” sign in his yard without his permission. When he repurposed the sign to reflect his actual position on the issue, the Measure F campaign sent a mailer to Eureka voters accusing him and the entire No on F campaign of being “cheaters.” The irony of such an accusation should not be lost on Eurekans.
Eureka City Council Adopts Bike Plan
On Tuesday, the Eureka City Council adopted a citywide bike plan focused mainly on developing a network of Bike Boulevards on low-traffic streets. The Council did not take up CRTP’s requests to establish minimum design criteria for the Bike Boulevards to ensure they are actually safe and low-stress for bicyclists, nor commit to safety improvements on dangerous high-traffic streets as well. However, the Council did direct staff to pursue our proposal for a quick-build strategy for many of the projects. City staff assured Councilmembers and the public that the plan is a “living document” and can be changed in the future.
E-Bike Voucher Funds Running Low (Unless You Live in Arcata)
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority still has a little money for e-bike vouchers, but not very much – so if you apply now, you may be placed on a waiting list. But if you live in Arcata, there’s extra money set aside just for you! That’s because the city made a special contribution to RCEA’s e-bike fund just for Arcata residents.
News from Beyond the North Coast
First Federal Vehicle Standards for Pedestrian Safety Proposed
For the first time, the federal government is proposing a safety rule for vehicles meant to protect pedestrians (instead of just people inside the vehicle). The new rule is aimed squarely at the enormous and dangerous pickup trucks and SUVs taking over American roads, and would require automakers to change hood designs to protect the heads of the pedestrians their vehicles might hit.
Bike Lanes Make Roads Safer for Everyone
A new study adds to the evidence that bike lanes – especially when protected by vertical barriers – cause drivers to slow down, which reduces injuries and deaths for all road users.
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.
Eureka City Council to Consider Adopting Bike Plan
The Collector
September 13, 2024
Two More Climate Action Plan Meetings Next Week
Next Tuesday at 3:30 pm, the Humboldt County Planning & Building Department will hold a scoping meeting to get public input on what should be considered in the environmental review of the draft Regional Climate Action Plan. The meeting can be attended in person at the Humboldt County Agricultural Center or remotely by Zoom. Click here for more information. Later that day, the Eureka City Council will hold a special 5:00 meeting at City Hall to discuss the draft plan.
Nearly three quarters of regional climate pollution covered by the draft plan comes from transportation. CRTP is asking for the Climate Action Plan’s transportation measures to align with the adopted Regional Transportation Plan, which would mean including more ambitious, effective and binding measures to reduce driving and support walking, biking and public transit. We are also asking for the plan to define “rural” and “urban” areas using the 2020 US Census definition of urban areas, rather than pretending that places like McKinleyville and Myrtletown are “rural” and therefore can’t be expected to have decent transit service or bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Finally, we are joining with our environmental allies to ask that the task of coordinating implementation of the Climate Action Plan be assigned to a new committee and staff at the Humboldt County Association of Governments, which already conducts regional transportation planning.
You can expect to see more detailed comments from CRTP and our allies in the coming days.
Eureka City Council to Consider Adopting Bike Plan
The City of Eureka has been developing a citywide bike plan for over a year. Next Tuesday (just after the special Climate Action Plan meeting), the City Council will consider adopting a final plan. The proposed plan focuses mainly on developing a network of Bike Boulevards on low-traffic streets. CRTP believes that Bike Boulevards can be an element of a safe and functional bike system, but other measures must also be also taken, including: (1) Establish minimum design criteria for the Bike Boulevards to ensure they are actually safe and low-stress for bicyclists (and not just painted sharrows); (2) Make bike improvements on major streets, too, since most bicyclists will be forced to use them at some point to get to their destinations; (3) Commit to a quick-build program that rapidly establishes a safe bike network, rather than taking decades to build every bike lane.
We are pleased to see that, at the same Tuesday meeting, the City Council will also be approving an annual street paving project that includes bike and pedestrian safety improvements in alignment with the city’s Complete Streets Policy. The improvements include buffered bike lanes on parts of H and Harris Streets, some bike upgrades on Myrtle Avenue, and some pedestrian accessibility improvements.
Report Your Local Tripping Hazard on Street Story!
A bumpy or uneven sidewalk is often a tripping hazard. While tripping on the sidewalk may be no big deal for many people, tripping hazards can cause major hurdles for some members of our our community, including those with mobility issues, such as people who use wheelchairs, the elderly, or even those who are pregnant. In some cases there is the added risk of tripping and falling into traffic.
Sidewalks need to be safe and accessible for all who walk, bike, and roll. Next time you’re out and about, be mindful of the sidewalk conditions and report what you see on Street Story! Haga clic aquí para hacer un informe en español.
News from Beyond the North Coast
More About the Transportation Bills on Governor Newsom’s Desk
Check out the helpful summary from CalBike, and contact the governor to ask him to sign these bills!
Parking Reform Is Climate Action
The Parking Reform Network lists some of the ways that parking reform is an important climate strategy. If you didn’t know, now you do!
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.
Public Meeting Next Week on Regional Climate Action Plan
The Collector
September 6, 2024
Public Meeting Next Week on Regional Climate Action Plan Draft
Next Tuesday, September 10th, at 6 pm, Humboldt County will be holding a public meeting at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka to discuss the recently published draft of the Regional Climate Action Plan (covering the county and all of its cities). According to the most recent estimate, nearly three quarters of regional climate pollution covered by the plan comes from transportation. Experts agree that avoiding the worst climate impacts requires us to significantly reduce the amount we drive – so come out on Tuesday and demand that the plan include meaningful actions to reduce driving and support more walking, biking, rolling and public transit!
Mark Your Calendar for Our Week Without Driving Walk Audits!
The second national Week Without Driving is coming up in just a few weeks, and you can still sign up to take the challenge! Whether or not you are challenging yourself not to drive for the week, you are also invited to join CRTP and our co-sponsors for two walk audits that week in Eureka’s 4th and 5th Street corridor. On Wednesday, October 2nd, from 12-1 pm we will be walking a loop starting at 5th and D Street, and on Saturday, October 5th, from 5-6 pm we will be walking a loop starting at 5th and O Street. Join us to help assess the walkability and pedestrian safety, accessibility and comfort of this key corridor.
Arcata City Council Delays Action on Making K Street Safer
Thanks to all of CRTP’s members and supporters who contacted Councilmembers to ask them to approve designs for a quick-build project that would significantly improve bike and pedestrian safety on K Street. Improvements like these were promised by the Council during their deliberations on the Gateway Plan last year, and are desperately needed to avoid a future tragedy on this dangerous street.
Unfortunately, despite strong support for the proposed changes throughout the planning process, the Council this week appeared reluctant to remove parking in order to provide space for safe bike lanes. (Several business representatives predicted they’d be negatively impacted by parking removal, despite studies showing that these kinds of projects usually help local businesses.) But the Council ultimately delayed making a final decision until a future meeting, so there is still an opportunity to get a good project. Rest assured that CRTP will continue to advocate for putting safety first on K Street.
Speaking of biking in Arcata, if you have ever used Arcata’s bike share system – or if you’d like to use it in the future – you should tell the city about your experiences! Click here to fill out the city’s bike share survey.
Measure F Would Be a Disaster for Eureka, Housing Advocates Warn
Measure F would effectively prohibit planned housing and transit center development in downtown Eureka by requiring the preservation of existing parking lots, plus the construction of costly parking structures for new residents. The California Housing Defense Fund recently sent a letter to city officials warning them that if Measure F passes, the city could be in major legal and financial trouble. Meanwhile, the former Jacobs school campus – which Measure F proponents claim would be developed with housing to offset the loss downtown – looks like it will instead be sold to the California Highway Patrol to build a local headquarters. And a new private parking lot is currently under development downtown, adding to the already huge amount of downtown parking, and making Measure F look even more ridiculous.
Cal Poly Humboldt Is Inaccessible
It has long been an open secret that getting around the university campus is nearly impossible for many people with disabilities. Amid advocacy by professors and students for improvements – efforts that advocates say have largely been ignored or rebuffed by the administration – a new map made by a Cal Poly Humboldt professor highlights just how inaccessible the campus really is. Unfortunately, dangerous and inequitable designs like those found on campus are common in our communities. CRTP advocates for universally safe and accessible designs for streets and other public spaces.
Help Encourage Your Friends & Neighbors to Use Street Story
We are looking for folks who want to film a short video with us about a location they want to highlight and make a report about on Street Story! These videos will be used on our social media to help promote Street Story reporting and give folks ideas for reports. Click here for an example!
We also have Street Story outreach materials we can provide, such as flyers and brochures for your business, workplace, or local bulletin board, or to share with friends, neighbors and co-workers.
If you’re interested in either of these opportunities, please email Kelsey@transportationpriorities.org.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Transportation Bills on the Governor’s Desk
It’s the time of year when Californians sit on the edge of their seats waiting to see if Governor Newsom will sign or veto the bills sent to him by the state legislature. This year’s important transportation bills awaiting action by the governor include SB 960, the Caltrans complete streets bill, and SB 961, which would require new cars to warn drivers when they go more than 10 mph over the speed limit. (The original bill would have actually prevented cars from excessive speeding, but it was significantly watered down by the legislature. Apparently breaking speed laws and endangering other road users is considered a sacred right by many legislators.)
Small Towns Lead the Way on Parking Reform
To hear some people tell it, you might think that getting rid of costly parking mandates for new development is a reform that only works in big cities. In reality, many more small towns than big cities have implemented this reform, and they’re doing just fine. Locally, we are excited to report that Arcata committed to citywide removal of parking mandates in its recent General Plan update.
Do Roads Help or Hurt Local Economies?
A new study finds that the economic costs of building new roads in urban areas far exceed the benefits – and that actually removing some existing roads would produce a huge economic benefit.
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.
Can Roundabouts Be for Everyone?
The Collector
August 30, 2024
Can Roundabouts Be for Everyone?
Roundabouts significantly increase safety for drivers, which is great. They also move more cars than other types of intersections, which may not be so great. But most importantly, people walking, biking and rolling have different needs than drivers, and many roundabouts fail to provide a safe and comfortable experience for non-drivers – especially for pedestrians with disabilities. As local planners and engineers increasingly turn to roundabouts as a solution to street safety problems, the safety and comfort of non-drivers must be central to their designs, not an afterthought. For more on this topic, check out CRTP’s article in the September issue of the EcoNews.
Help Encourage Your Friends & Neighbors to Use Street Story
We are looking for folks who want to film a short video with us about a location they want to highlight and make a report about on Street Story! These videos will be used on our social media to help promote Street Story reporting and give folks ideas for reports. Click here for an example!
We also have Street Story outreach materials we can provide, such as flyers and brochures for your business, workplace, or local bulletin board, or to share with friends, neighbors and co-workers.
If you’re interested in either of these opportunities, please email Kelsey@transportationpriorities.org.
Don’t Forget to Register for the Week Without Driving!
For the second year in a row, we are challenging elected officials, transportation and planning professionals, activists and advocates to try not getting behind the wheel for a week – and in the process to get a first-hand experience of what daily life can be like for local non-drivers. The 2024 Week Without Driving runs from September 30th to October 6th. But please note: if you already have commitments that week and know you’ll have to drive some, we still encourage you to take the pledge and stick to it when you’re able. We won’t be mad at you for not making it the whole week – we just want you to consider what you would have done if you didn’t have the option to drive, either because of age, or disability, or because you couldn’t afford a car. Click here to find out more and take the pledge.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Caltrans Complete Streets Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk
SB 960 has been amended numerous times during the legislative process. It may not be quite as revolutionary as it was before those amendments, but it would still introduce significant new accountability measures and direct Caltrans to provide more bike, pedestrian, and public transit facilities on state highways – including community main streets in our region from Eureka’s 4th and 5th Streets to Highway 299 in Willow Creek. Click here to ask Governor Newsom to sign the bill.
New Bill in Congress to Address Unsafe Pickups & SUVs
Bigger vehicles are more dangerous for people walking, biking and rolling, and the increasing size and height of pickup trucks and SUVs is resulting in the deaths of more and more pedestrians and bicyclists every year. A new bill introduced in the US House of Representatives would address this problem by finally forcing the federal government to develop vehicle safety standards that consider not just the driver and passengers, but people outside the vehicle too.
Complete Streets Are Good for Business
We have long known that retrofitting streets with bike lanes, bike parking, bulbouts, and other pedestrian features increases safety and encourages more walking and biking. A new study finds that these projects also spur job creation and attract more (and more diverse) residents to the area.
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.
Weigh In on Safety Improvements for Samoa Blvd & US 101
The Collector
August 23, 2024
Just Over a Month Until the Week Without Driving!
Don’t forget: the 2024 Week Without Driving runs from September 30th through October 6th. If you or someone you know is a local elected official or appointed committee member, work for a public agency on transportation-related plans and projects, or just want to see your community from a different angle, consider taking the Week Without Driving pledge. Participating in this challenge provides the opportunity to experience first-hand what life may be like for the many members of our local community who are non-drivers, either because of their age, a disability, or because of the high cost of owning and operating a vehicle. We are also working to pair up decision-makers with regular transit riders for transit ride-alongs, which can help provide an even deeper perspective.
Public Workshop Next Week on Safety Improvements for Samoa Boulevard & US 101
Next Thursday at 5:30 pm, the City of Arcata is hosting a workshop at the Arcata Community Center to discuss how the highway interchange at Samoa Boulevard and US 101 could be made safer and more comfortable for people walking, biking and rolling. This is one of the most dangerous spots in the city for bicyclists and pedestrians and acts as a barrier between the Bayside and Sunny Brae neighborhoods and the rest of the city, so we’re excited to see improvements. The city will also be discussing possible changes to the rest of Samoa Boulevard and South G Street. Click here for more information on the project, or click here to take a survey. And please show up on Thursday to advocate for meaningful safety improvements!
Remember to Report Safe Places on Street Story
Did you know you can report safe places on Street Story? While reports of crashes, near misses and road hazards are critically important, locating safe areas is also very useful information. Currently, only 3% of the Humboldt County reports are safe places. Safe place reporting helps us understand where communities are doing something right, and where people might be traveling to avoid other streets they don’t feel safe on. This is all helpful and useful information to get insight on the community’s travel experiences. If you haven’t been in a crash and can’t think of any hazard areas, consider reporting a road or intersection where you feel safe! Haga clic aquí para hacer un informe en español.
Humboldt County Planning Commission Discusses Parking Policy
While deliberating on a new ordinance to allow housing to be built on commercially zoned properties, some Commissioners brought up the fact that any future housing projects will still have to comply with the county’s costly parking mandates. Thankfully, the ordinance does allow the number of required spaces to be reduced under some circumstances, but in general those mandates still apply. Additionally, the county scrapped a requirement in the ordinance that the new housing be located in existing communities – a change which we fear will encourage more car-dependent sprawl. CRTP will be advocating to fix these problems before the final ordinance is adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
Want to Help Plan the Future of Your Community?
If you live in McKinleyville or Arcata, this might be your opportunity! Arcata now has an open seat on its Planning Commission; click here to apply. In McKinleyville, the Municipal Advisory Committee provides input to the county on land use and transportation planning topics, and three members’ terms are about to expire. Click here for more information on how to apply for one of the McKinleyville positions.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Want to Take the Bus to Your Next Hike?
In some rural, tourist-oriented areas, buses and shuttles take people directly to popular trailheads and outdoor recreation areas. There are a lot of challenges to designing transit access to nature in a way that is efficient and cost effective, but it’s a pretty exciting idea to consider here on the beautiful North Coast!
How Would You Feel About Paying Separately for Your Parking Spot?
If you live in an apartment, chances are good that it comes with a parking spot or two – and that the cost of providing that parking is included in your monthly rent payment. Charging separately for housing and parking (called “unbundling”) helps reveal the true cost of parking and ensures that people aren’t forced to pay for parking they don’t use. A new study suggests that many people would be happy to accept this arrangement, even when they own multiple 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.
Some Safety Improvements Coming to Eureka’s 4th & 5th Streets
The Collector
August 16, 2024
Some Safety Improvements Coming to Eureka’s 4th & 5th Streets
At the Humboldt County Association of Governments Board meeting this week, Caltrans’ new local Safe Systems Office Chief reported that when 4th and 5th Streets are repaved next year, the project will include new high-visibility markings on all crosswalks, as well as additional striping to emphasize no-parking zones near crosswalks, and even a few flashing beacons to draw drivers’ attention to pedestrians crossing the street.
This is all part of a new Caltrans program that allows the agency to include quick, low-cost safety improvements in some of their routine road maintenance projects. CRTP previously provided input to our local Caltrans district about what improvements should be prioritized, and many of these 4th and 5th Street changes were on our list. We are pleased that Caltrans listened, and we’re excited to see these improvements! But we also recognize that a lot more needs to be done to make these streets truly safe. Expect to hear more from CRTP about 4th and 5th Streets in the future.
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan Draft Available for Public Comment
Back in 2017, when Humboldt County was completing its last General Plan update, the county promised to work with local cities to adopt a regional Climate Action Plan that shows how the region will live up to its obligations to reduce climate pollution. Seven long years later – after a lot of pressure from CRTP and other local environmental advocates – a public draft of that plan is finally available. The county says it expects to complete environmental review and adopt the final plan (along with all the local cities) in the summer of 2025.
The county’s calculations show that three-quarters of climate pollution subject to the draft Climate Action Plan come from transportation, so the need for major reforms of our transportation system is clear. CRTP is still reviewing the document, and you’ll hear more from us soon. You can submit comments on the draft plan from now through September 13th, and there will be a public meeting held on Tuesday, September 10th, at 6:00 pm at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka.
Two Opportunities to Learn More About Street Story
Have you been wanting to use Street Story, but feel like you need a little more information? Next Tuesday at 4:30 pm, CRTP Outreach Specialist Kelsey Martin will be presenting to the Arcata Transportation Safety Committee about how Street Story works, and how local agencies can use the tool to help improve street safety. Members of the public are welcome to attend.
Then, on Wednesday at 9:30 am, CRTP Executive Director Colin Fiske will talk about our work promoting and using Street Story as part of a statewide webinar on collaborations between community organizations and local governments applying for active transportation funding. Click here to learn more and register for the webinar.
Eureka City Council to Talk About Vacant Building Ordinance
Next Tuesday, the Council will continue its discussion of a proposed ordinance that would penalize property owners for leaving buildings vacant while making no attempt to sell or rent them. Why is this a transportation issue? Because making full use of existing buildings in our cities reduces the pressure to build new car-dependent sprawl!
News from Beyond the North Coast
House Republicans Keep Trying to Cut Transit Funding
The latest budget proposals from House Republicans again include massive cuts to public transit, as well as prohibitions on spending transportation money to promote equity or climate resilience.
“Killed by a Traffic Engineer”
Did you know that you can become a professional traffic engineer in the United States without having taken a single class in traffic engineering? Or that many standard traffic engineering practices are based on outdated (and often debunked) research, or on no research at all? Former transportation engineer and current engineering professor Wes Marshall discusses these and many other shocking facts in his new book, and concludes that the profession needs to make some major changes – and to admit that its practices have been responsible for a huge number of deaths and serious injuries on America’s streets and highways.
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.