The Collector
March 7, 2025
The Urgent Need for Safety Improvements in Eureka
Check out CRTP Executive Director Colin Fiske’s latest article in the EcoNews for an overview of the unsafe conditions on Eureka’s Broadway, 4th and 5th Streets – also known as state highway US-101. We’ve been fighting for safety improvements on Broadway for years, and have recently been focusing attention on 4th and 5th Streets as well. One way you can help is by making reports on Street Story about hazards, crashes, and near-misses you’ve experienced in this corridor.
There’s a Lot Going on at the Humboldt Transit Authority
At the Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) Board of Directors meeting this week, the Board took a final vote to take over “all management, functions and assets” of the Arcata & Mad River Transit System, at the request of the City of Arcata. The city-owned Arcata Transit Center will stay largely the same for now.
At the same meeting, the Board also directed HTA staff to investigate bringing its Dial-a-Ride paratransit service in-house. Dial-a-Ride provides door-to-door transportation for people with disabilities that prevent them from using the public bus system, and has been operated by a private contractor for many years.
Neither of these changes will have an immediate impact on transit riders. Over the long term, however, we hope that HTA taking over Arcata transit service and operating the Dial-a-Ride system with its own employees will lead to cost savings, service improvements, and better coordination among transit services.
Meanwhile, HTA also announced that it will be getting its first hydrogen-powered bus by the end of this month. The shift to hydrogen has been planned for many years in response to the state mandate to transition to zero-emission transit vehicles. CRTP continues to advocate for the prioritization of green hydrogen fuel, to ensure these vehicles aren’t just displacing emissions to other communities.
And don’t let the new grant-funded buses fool you – HTA is still in desperate need of long-term operating funds. In fact, if you’re looking for a job, they need drivers too! Because while new buses are nice, it’s the service they provide that’s most important. Or as CRTP Board Member Peggy Martinez puts it, “transit is as useful as it is available.”
Take Humboldt County’s Economic Development Survey
Humboldt County is currently looking for public input on its economic development strategies. If you believe, like we do, that high-quality public transit, comfortable sidewalks and bike lanes, and a good commuter trail network are important for economic development, take the county survey and let them know!
Sunday: Bike Film Screening & Community Event
This Sunday from 1-3 pm at Eureka’s Jefferson Community Center, KEET PBS will be screening the documentary “Bike Vessel,” about “a father and son’s inspiring cycling journey to reclaim their health.” After the film, there will be a community event with bike safety tips, an introduction to the Eureka Bike Kitchen, and more. Click here to RSVP.
News from Beyond the North Coast
Overwhelming Demand for State E-Bike Vouchers
When the first round of e-bike vouchers was released in December, almost 100,000 people logged onto the state website in the first hour hoping to get one. But only the first 1,500 people succeeded. Fortunately, there will be more rounds of vouchers released in the future, and the state is hoping to make the process fairer and more accessible.
Car and Truck Safety Rules at Risk
The Trump administration is taking aim at rules meant to keep motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians safe. Despite having a huge mandate and relatively few employees, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is among the many agencies being directed to cut staff, and its new rule requiring automatic emergency braking on new vehicles was frozen shortly after Trump took office. Reporters have also gained access to leaked documents suggesting the administration will end a rule requiring automakers to report crashes involving their experimental autonomous vehicles.
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.