Happy Trails

This morning Emily and I spoke with Aaron Antrim of Trillium Solutions. Aaron used to live in Humboldt County, attended HSU and helped found Greenwheels. Aaron was instrumental in creating the JackPass program which allows HSU students to travel on HTA buses for free (paid for through a portion of student fees). Now Aaron runs Trillium Transit Solutions which works with transit agencies across the country and the world to make public transportation more efficient and easier for all people to use in both rural and urban areas.

Cliff and Emily talk with Miles Slattery, City of Eureka Parks and Recreation director about the Eureka Waterfront trail. Where we are, the next three phases of the trail and potential funding that could complete the trail around the city by 2016. They will find out about the funding in August. Wish them (and us) luck! We also discussed all phases of the Bay Trail, and slough crossing options.

This morning I spoke with Dave Hayse of the Humboldt Trails Council about progress on the Lacks Creek Trail project. We also talked about the McKay Tract and the first phase of the McKay Community Forest. This weekend at the Humboldt Made Fair at Redwood Acres will be a great place to find out more. The Bay Trail and Hammond Trail were also on the agenda.

Cliff talks with Jenny Weiss of RCAA and Melanie Williams, Active Transportation Expert. We talked about safe Routes to School, some of our successes and future plans, how getting to school is getting safer and easier and some tips on getting out and doing family riding this summer. Also discussed was a volunteer crossing guard program in Eureka.

Cliff and Emily talk about local trail grant applications for the Humboldt Bay Trail and the Eureka Waterfront Trail, Safe Routes to School, and disturbing data just out from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for 2012. Some unfortunate trends include, a 6% increase in pedestrian fatalities over the previous year, alcohol played a part in 48% of all traffic related pedestrian fatalities, and one fifth of all pedestrian fatalities are hit and run accidents.

Cliff and Emily talk with Richard Mullen, Project Manager at Caltrans about the repaving and colored shoulder project on the Safety Corridor. Also discusses is the Indianolla Interchange project and it's relationship to the Bay Trail.

Cliff and Emily talk with George Jennings and Laurie Bagley about Cycle Siskiyou and the Art Of Survival Century Ride coming up on May 24th in Tule lake. We also touched on the Tour Of The Unknown Coast coming up this Saturday and other Bike Month Events happing this week.

Cliff and Emily talk with Mark Mueller and Brett Gronemeyer of the Humboldt Bike Month Council about a multitude of activities for Bike Month coming up in May.

Emily and I talked with Tim Daniels of the Redwood Coast Mountain Bike Association this morning regarding work on the Arcata Ridge Trail and upcoming work on the McKay Community Forest. We also touched on Bike Month events coming up.

Emily and I talk with Doby Class, Public Works Director and Netra Kahtri, Assistant Public Works Director from the City of Arcata about their plan to start Bike Boulevards in the city. Also discussed is today's vote at the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on a plan to purchase the McKay Tract for public use as the McKay Community Forest. It is widely expected to pass. The vote is at 1:30pm today.

Cliff and Emily talk with Debi Farber Bush and Kirk Cohune of Greenway Partners and the Humboldt Trails Council about progress on the Bay Trail and the upcoming awareness campaign the Jammie Jog. Participants will jog or walk in their pajamas beginning at 9am on April 27th starting at Greenway Partners in Arcata. Also more information on the trails stewards program is discussed.

Cliff talks with Emily Sinkhorn and Darin Dinsmore of Crowdbright who facilitated a meeting last night at Azalea Hall regarding the Central Ave Improvement Project. This brainstorming session brought together dispirit viewpoints to find common ground. The discussion continues at crowdbright.com. There will also be a series of meetings regarding the proposed McKay Tract Community Forest. That is also discussed.

Cliff and Emily discuss the California Transportation Commission's funding of nearly 3 million dollars for both the southern and northern ends of the Bay Trail and a project in Fortuna. Mark Dinger of Caltrans discussed the California Travel Survey which shows a 50% increase in bike and ped traffic in the state. With that said, Caltrans is shifting their priorities to included this data in their future projects.

Emily and I talk with Dave Hayes of the Humboldt Trails Council about the McKay Community Forest Trail Stewards call for volunteers. With the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors set to vote on wether to move forward with large public forest project covering land between Myrtletown, Cutten and Ridgewood the Humboldt Trails Council is looking for a bank of volunteers to help offset and mitigate the costs of maintaing this large piece of public land. If you would like to volunteer go to http://www.humtrails.org/mckay.html

Cliff and Emily discuss Monday's 8 to 1 Supreme Court decision in favor of a private land owner in Wyoming. This decision potentially effects over 1400 bike and nature trails nationwide. We also look at how it could effect Humboldt County's trail efforts. We also look at where we stand with the political football known as the General Plan Update and how now the Board of Sups has said "Oops" regarding sending it off the the New Planing Commission for their unwanted input items that have strong to unanimous approval. Lastly we talked with Kevin Wright about Prop A, a highly targeted tax to fund trails and transportation which was passed in Marin County and now being implemented and what we can learn from their success.

Cliff and Emily talk about the upcoming discussion at the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors March 10th at 1:30pm and what you can do as a trail advocate to support trails in the General Plan. Caltrans Feasibility Study regarding improving safety on Broadway through Eureka is discussed, and new proposed federal legislation to increase bicyclist and pedestrian safety are talked about.

Emily updates us on the planing commission's decision to remove language regrading trails and public access from the General Plan Update. Details of a large public response to Thursday's meeting and an invitation to attend tonight's meeting in show of support of trail is also discussed. Then Doug Rose from the McKinleyville Organizing Committee talks about the their efforts to improve public safety on Central Avenue between School and Hiller Roads. McKinleyville has gotten an $800,000 to $1,000,000 grant for this purpose. Now that townspeople have rejected the concept of a median down the center of Central Ave. other methodologies are being sought.

Cliff and Emily talk with Melanie Williams about the Bicycle Bookmobile program she has started in the Arcata area with hopes of expanding to other communities. So far it has been very well received. Emily also updates us on all other bike, ped and trail related events happing this week.

Cliff and Emily talk with Don Tuttle, retired from County Public works about Trails and Transportation history here in Humboldt County going back to before the arrival of Native American tribes. We also look forward to the plan of a regional trail system connecting all communities in the county.

Cliff and Emily talk with Paul Pitino about HCAOG and SSTAC and the unmet transit needs hearings going on now in various cities. These meetings are open to the public and your input is welcome.