For what appears to be the fourth time, Arcata’s Transportation Safety Committee has once again rejected the Gateway Plan and General Plan concept of the L – K Street Couplet.

At their May 16, 2023, meeting, Chair Dave Ryan and other members of the Committee took mere seconds to reinforce what they have clearly stated as their firm position on the couplet concept for L Street: They are against it and feel it has no place in the modern design of Arcata’s streets and traffic patterns. “Make the priority to improve L Street as a people corridor.”

What the Transportation Safety Committee Declared

The pictures tell the story.

The draft General Plan, Page 2-51. This is a draft that each City Committee and the Planning Commission and the City Council can comment on and made recommendations or counter-proposals on. As it currently reads:  “Redesign ‘K’ and ‘L’ Streets to be one-way couplets south of 14th Street.”

Photos taken during the May 16, 2023, Transportation Safety Committee meeting. This is the recommendation of the Transportation Safety Committee.
“Removal of couplet in favor of a linear park through the L St corridor.”

The draft General Plan, Page 2-53. The current draft reads:  “… proposing circulation patterns to convert two-way streets into one-way couplets on K Street, L Street…”

Photo taken during the May 16, 2023, Transportation Safety Committee meeting.
This is the recommendation of the Transportation Safety Committee.
“Eliminate all references to the K & L Street couplet.”

Quotes from previous articles on Arcata1.com

Transportation Safety Committee Meeting – Audio recording and transcription
January 18, 2022

“I see the L Street corridor as such an opportunity for this community to actually plan something wonderful.”
“This is an opportunity to really put our money where our mouth is in terms of making it a little less of a car-centric area.”
“Make the priority to improve L Street as a people corridor.”

The Transportation Safety Committee discussion of the L Street – K Street Couplet
TSC meeting, September 20, 2022.

“I don’t know that what they’re proposing with K Street is going to magically transform it to something that’s going to be less than continuing to be a mess, or a disaster, whatever word the Councilmembers used, because of our love of cars, and traffic. But guaranteed – There would be a tragic transformation of the L Street corridor with what they’re proposing.”

“I think we are quite aware of what the alternatives have been and what have been planned. And I would just like to say that, you know, we knew exactly what we were doing when we did that, when we took that vote.”

Dave Ryan says: Abandon the L-K Street Couplet. Embrace the L Street Linear Park and Pathway.  TSC meeting, August 2, 2022.

“These are all verbatim right out of the Gateway Plan and they, I think, these are great, great items and visions that are part of the overall plan.”

• • • Transitioning the Plan Area to become pedestrian-dominated.
    • Planning for non-motorized connectivity to other parts of the city with pedestrian and bicycle-friendly corridors that draw residents and visitors to enter the Gateway via means other than motorized vehicles.
    • As stated repeatedly throughout this document, the Gateway area is envisioned to be a sustainable neighborhood in which residents have the option to live car-free without sacrificing safety or convenience. To do this, transportation needs must be met fully via transit, pedestrian, and bicycle infrastructure that connects seamlessly to all other City destinations.
    • Arcata has the opportunity to create cutting-edge, sustainable, equitable, and efficient new infrastructure about which the community can be proud.
    • The public has made clear and interest to create a place where residents have the option to live car-free.
    • The plan area currently contains no public parks, recreational facilities, or publicly accessible open spaces other than the Rail-to-Trail project along L Street.
    • Reduce trips from other parts of the City and fulfill the potential of the Rail-to-Trail project.
    • “Mobility infrastructure that Supports Car-free Lifestyle” — “reduce greenhouse gas emissions”
    •  

And my recommendation is that is to become a car-free Linear Park that prioritizes people.