The Collector
February 28, 2020
County to Partner with Energy Authority on Clean Mobility
At its meeting yesterday, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority’s Board of Directors discussed a partnership with Humboldt County Public Health to apply for a state Clean Mobility grant, which would provide “voucher-based funding for zero-emission carsharing, carpooling and vanpooling, bike-sharing/scooter-sharing, innovative transit services, and ride-on-demand services in California’s historically underserved communities.”
Parking Policy, Road Diets Debated for McKinleyville Town Center
Although the Times-Standard coverage doesn’t mention these topics, parking and transportation were probably the most talked-about planning areas discussed at this week’s Town Center planning meeting. As they laid out in a memo prior to the meeting, County staff took the revolutionary step of admitting that McKinleyville has more free car storage than it needs, and that maybe the Town Center should require less of it. They also suggested (amazing!) that reducing lanes on Central Avenue through the Town Center area may be needed to make the area more walkable. These ideas got a surprisingly warm – if at times a little skeptical – reception from members of the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee. The Town Center conversation will continue at public meetings held every two weeks until at least the end of May.
Rail Proponents Just Keep Chugging Along
Humboldt County’s train lovers haven’t given up on bringing back something to ride the rails around here. This time, they’re not talking about freight trains or passenger rail – which, as Senator McGuire so succinctly said, “will never come back” – but small-scale tourist or demonstration projects. A new feasibility study concludes that even these small-scale projects would be very expensive, but still possibly achievable. Of course, any new rail project would have to be compatible with the new Great Redwood Trail, which is now the law of the land governing the North Coast Railroad Authority right-of-way.
Weekly Street Story Update: West End Road
Numerous reports highlight the dangers of walking and biking on West End Road in Arcata, which is one of the main connections between Valley West and the rest of the city. Here’s one report: “Too many work trucks and cars that drive too fast and can’t see you due to no sidewalks, no lighting. A terrible road to walk or bike on.” You can make your own Street Story report here.
New Report Aims for Carbon-Free Transportation in California
Electrify cars and buses and increase walking, biking and transit. Seems easy enough, right?
Car-Free Market Street Doesn’t Affect Traffic Much
Every time a major street goes car-free, or an urban freeway is removed, people predict that terrible traffic jams will result. The word “carmaggedon” is much used. But every time, nothing that bad happens to traffic – and neighborhoods benefit enormously.
Why Would a Bike Shop Owner Oppose Safer Bike Infrastructure?
Fear of change is a very real thing – even when the data all indicate that the change would benefit you.
Bike Commuting Has a Problem
In big cities like San Francisco, it seems to be dominated by wealthy white men. Why that is, and what can be done about it, are much debated topics. Of course, in areas like Humboldt County with less extensive public transit systems, lower-income commuters without cars are more likely to rely on bikes for commuting as well.
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.