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Hello Arcata Staff,
Can you please forward these comments to the Transportation Safety Committee.
Thank you,
Matt Simmons
Redwood Coalition for Climate and Environmental Responsibility
***
Dear members of the Transportation Safety Committee,
I had hoped I would be able to attend tonight’s meeting but a last minute conflict may keep me
from doing so. So, I am writing to express the Redwood Coalition for Climate and
Environmental Responsibility (RCCER’s) opinions on the Gateway Plan’s Circulation and
Infrastructure Chapters.
First, let me say thank you for your consideration of these issues. The Gateway Plan will bring
significant but much needed changes to Arcata. As a resident of Arcata, I am incredibly
excited for many of these changes because they will allow more Arcatans to live a car-free,
low carbon life. And will help make Arcata accessible to those who do not or cannot drive a
car.
One of the changes that has gotten the most attention from members of the community is the proposed L/K street couplet with some members of the community concerned that this would add traffic to L Street.
RCCER supports this change however and I wanted to let you know why.
First, this change will allow K street to become 1 lane with significant bike and pedestrian
safety improvements. Currently, K street is a road that people drive down very fast and with traffic coming both ways. As a pedestrian and while on my bike I have felt unsafe crossing K street. Making the street 1 way, with bike and pedestrian improvements, will vastly improve the safety there. Not only for new Gateway Residents but also for all current residents in Arcata.
Second, the proposal will turn the L street trail into a continuous buffered path. This will
actually make the L street trail and those who use it much safer than they currently are as the trail currently shares space with the road in many places (e.g., between 10th and 11th St and north of 12th St).
Third, the proposal will not add new vehicular capacity because the switch to a 1 way on K
street balances out the new vehicle capacity on L street.
All of that said, we would also support an alternative proposal – for example, a J/K Street
single-lane couplet – which is feasible and would accomplish the same goals. However, we
would not support alternatives that do not allow K Street to be narrowed and improved with
bike/ped safety features, that do not improve the area’s overall walkability and bikeability, or
that add substantial vehicular capacity to the streets.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing your deliberations and decisions.
Best,
Matt Simmons
RCCER