The Collector
January 22, 2021
Objections to Bay-to-Zoo Trail Surface in Eureka
At Thursday’s community meeting, some property owners adjacent to the proposed route revived old, debunked fears about trails bringing crime, trash and lower property values. Running through many of the comments was a thinly veiled theme of classism and racism, brought to the surface through derogatory references to a “certain kind of people” who the commenters thought would be walking or biking between the hospital district and public service providers downtown. On other hand, many property owners – along with community members and advocates – voiced strong support for the trail. CRTP supports the trail for use by all Eureka residents and visitors, and we are working to make sure that it includes safe crossings of busy streets and adequate facilities to minimize conflicts between bikes and pedestrians.
CRTP and Allies Comment on Del Norte Regional Transportation Plan
It’s an improvement from previous plans, but still falls far short. Notably, the draft plan projects that the county will have no money to implement bike and pedestrian projects in the next 20 years, that transit ridership will continue to decline, and that there will be more driving despite a declining population. We call that planning for failure, and it’s unacceptable.
Arcata Envisions Denser, Walkable Infill Development
At a study session on Thursday, staff and Councilmembers discussed their vision for the downtown and Creamery districts. CRTP shares the city’s vision of mixed-use, form-based, walkable development, especially incorporating wider sidewalks and better transit service.
State Transportation Commission to Consider Local Bike/Pedestrian Projects
Funding allocations for projects in Fortuna and Trinidad are on next week’s agenda. Other local projects on the agenda include the extension of on-ramps at the Highway 101/Highway 299 interchange in Arcata. Another notable item on the Commission’s agenda is the adoption of an official racial equity statement which acknowledges the state’s racist history of building highways through communities of color, among other things.
Reminder: Make Your Street Story Reports
719 reports (and counting) have been made in Humboldt County so far. If you see or experience a hazard, near-miss or collision on the street, make your Street Story report here. CRTP uses reports to advocate for change, and local agencies use them to apply for grants and prioritize improvements. Your reports are important!
Eureka Bike Lanes to Be Spruced Up Soon
Find out more in the latest edition of Wheel People.
Buttigieg Gets Attention for Road Diets in South Bend
Will his mayoral history with de-prioritizing cars downtown translate into a shift in focus for the US Department of Transportation? Another key appointment in the Department raises some hopes.
When Lockdowns Lifted, Traffic Deaths Spiked
Initial explanations include faster driving on less-crowded roads, as well as increased levels of drinking and other drug use related to pandemic mental health stresses.
Does High-End Infill Housing Lead to Gentrification?
A piece in The Atlantic argues it’s a symptom, not a cause. CRTP supports many forms of infill housing, but we always consider issues of affordability when we review plans and projects.
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.