This article was first published on Arcata1.com on May 1, 2023, one year ago. It is being given a new date to “bump it up” so more people can take a look at it.
For other articles on Woonerfs and the L Street corridor linear park, tap/click here.

This would be wonderful !

An overview of the L Street Corridor Linear Park is here.
All articles on the L Street Corridor Linear Park are here.

In June, 2010, the City of Arcata published a 160-page document titled “Arcata Rail With Trail Feasibility Study and Operations Plan.” The full contents of this document can be seen in the article “L Street – 2010 Rail with Trail Feasibility Study” on this website, from November 2022. What does the document say?

“L Street will be where the city and the trail converge, creating a vibrant community gathering space.” 

“Implementing the Arcata RWT [Rails With Trails] will help the region achieve a world-class recreation and transportation system. A multi-use trail facility will result in expanded recreation and mobility options for Arcata, Eureka, and Humboldt County residents and visitors, especially those who seek to integrate a healthy lifestyle into their daily activities.”

“The one location where the Arcata RWT interfaces with the street grid network of the City is at L Street. This is a very low volume street with almost exclusively local traffic. This is the ideal location for a shared use street that includes the Arcata RWT [Rail With Trail]. The following features are included in the design:

Mid block bollards to close the street to through traffic, but permit fire access.
The narrow street insures slow moving vehicles on the street.
The trees, benches, planters with seatwalls and lights provide pedestrian elements.
Planters can be used as community garden space.
Sculpture footings can be placed along the street for art installations.
Colored pavers increase visibility of crosswalks.
Curb extensions at the corners to calm traffic and improve safety for pedestrians.”

In short, everything that we have been talking about as being what we desire to be included in the Gateway Area Plan is in this 2010 plan: Bike lanes, pedestrian-first orientation, quality-of-life benefits, and the formation of a vibrant and active community. It’s all there, in explicit detail.

When looking at this document, you may well wonder:

Why go further and try to re-create something that has already been developed?

It is all there, just waiting for us to recognize how valuable this linear park could be, for all of Arcata.

For more information on the L Street pathway and linear park, with images, maps, and an overview — and how to sign the petition to create this Linear Park — click here.

For more articles with more details, including quotes from the Transportation Safety Committee Chair Dave Ryan, issues with the Todd Tregenza engineering presentation to the City Council and Planning Commission, videos and transcriptions from Transportation Safety Committee meetings, how the City does not have the legal rights to build a street there… and more … go to the L Street Pathway page on this website.