Appendix B 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

ADT (Average Daily Traffic)

A measure of the daily (24-hour period) average amount of traffic generated from a source, utilizing a route or corridor, and/or arriving at, or through, a destination or point.

A&MRTS (Arcata and Mad River Transit Service)

ATS (Advanced Transportation System)

ATS strategies enhance safety; improve the movement of people, goods, services and information; increase travel information and promote trip enhancement.

Bicycle Facility Classification System

Name	Facility Classification	Description*
Bike Path	Class I	Separated, surfaced right-of-way designated exclusively for non-motorized use. The minimum width for each direction is 1.5 meters, with a 2.4 meter minimum width for a bi-directional path.
Bike Lane	Class II	White stripe and Bike Lane sign on roadway providing 1.5 meters of road surface for preferential bicycle use (not including gutter). Vehicle parking adjacent to and motorist crossflow is allowed. Bike lanes must be on both sides of a two-way road for one-way travel only.
Bike Route	Class III	Shared roadway with motorists on through routes not served by Class I or II bikeways or to connect discontinuous bikeways. Established by a Bike Route sign.

BLA (Bicycle Lane Account)

Federal funding program for roadway-related bicycle facilities enhancements; will increase from $1 million to $5 million by the year 2004.

Caltrans (California Department of Transportation)

The state level department responsible for oversight of the statewide multi-modal transportation system, maintenance of the State Highway System, and other related tasks as assigned by the California State Government.

CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)

Natural gas compressed to a pressure of between 3,000 pounds per square inch (psi) (for light duty vehicles) and 3,600 psi (for transit vehicles).

CTC (California Transportation Commission)

The CTC is an 11-member state commission appointed by the Governor.  The CTC advises and assists the state legislature and the administration in formulating and evaluating state policies and plans for transportation programs in California. Special responsibilities include adopting a STIP, preparing the Biennial Report to the Legislature concerning significant transportation issues, and evaluating the proposed state transportation budget.

DAR/DAL (Dial-A-Ride/Dial-A-Lift)

DOT (Department of Transportation)

 

 

EEM (Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program)

A competitive grant program, administered through the CTC and Caltrans, which makes $10 million available annually for mitigation of impacts from transportation related projects. Several types of projects are eligible for funding, including bicycle facilities and signage.

ETS (Eureka Transit Service)

FCR (Flexible Congestion Relief)

A new State Highway Account (SHA) program element for funding in the new 7-year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to help alleviate traffic congestion.

FAS (Federal-Aid Secondary Standards)

Federal road standards that apply to certain designated rural roads and minor state highways for which Federal-Aid Secondary Funds are spent. These have become part of the new Surface Transportation Program under ISTEA.

FC (Functional Classification)

A designation for each roadway describing its general characteristics in terms of its function within the overall roadway system. Examples include local roads, minor and major collectors, minor and principal arterials.

FTA (Federal Transit Authority)

ITS (Intelligent Transportation System)

ITS is the use of computer and communications technologies to improve safety, productivity, and mobility even while traffic congestion increases.

IRRS (Interregional Roadway System)

The IRRS is a series of interregional state highway routes outside of urbanized areas.  They provide access to and between the state's economic centers, major recreational areas, and urban and rural regions.

IRRS Program

An SHA program element for funding improvements on the IRRS.  Improvement projects for this program must be chosen from a 10-year IRRS Plan submitted by Caltrans to the California State Legislature in February of 1990.  Programming will be authorized by the biennial CTC adopted STIP.

HCAOG (Humboldt County Association of Governments)

The HCAOG is established under requirements of State Government Code and is composed of representatives from the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, City Councils of the seven incorporated Cities, and the Humboldt Transit Authority. The primary functions of  HCAOG are:

(1) development and yearly accomplishment of the overall work program (OWP);

(2) biennial preparation of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP);

(3) LTF funds administration according to the Transportation Development Act (TDA); and

(4) preparation of an biennial Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP).

HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle)

HTA (Humboldt Transit Authority)

LNG (Liquid Natural Gas)

Natural gas with cryogenic (very low temperature) properties of the fuel.  (LNG is maintained at a temperature of –261 degrees Fahrenheit.)

LOS (Levels-of -Service)

A qualitative measure of traffic operating conditions whereby a letter grade, "A" through "F", corresponding to progressively worsening traffic conditions, is assigned to an intersection or section of roadway

Local Roads

The rural local road system should have the following characteristics (1) serves primarily to provide access to adjacent land (2) provides service for travel over relatively short distances as compared to collectors or arterial systems. Local roads constitute the rural mileage not classified as arterial or collector.

LTF (Local Transportation Funds)

TDA funding, which is derived from state sales taxes are generally referred to as LTF; also, the actual repository account fund for these revenues is at the Humboldt County Auditors - Controllers office.

MJC (Major Collector) (Applicable to State Highways in this plan)

Major collectors should:

(1)   provide service to any County seat not on an arterial route, to the larger towns not directly served by the higher road systems, and to other traffic generators of equivalent intra-county importance, such as consolidated schools, shipping points, County parks, important mining and agricultural areas, etc;

(2)    link these places with nearby larger towns or cities, or with routes of higher classification; and,

(3)    serve the more important intra-county travel corridors.

MNC (Minor Collector) (Applicable to State Highways in this plan)

Minor collectors should:

(1)   be spaced at intervals, consistent with population density, to collect traffic from local roads and bring all developed areas within a reasonable distance of a collector road;

(2)    provide service to the remaining smaller communities; and,

(3)    link the locally important traffic generators with their rural hinterland minor arterial(s).

Minor Arterial (Applicable to State Highways in this plan)

In Humboldt County the "Minor Arterial" system consists basically of most state highways, although some new or existing streets and roads may achieve minor arterial status as the cities and the county grows.  Minor arterials constitute routes whose design should be expected to provide for relatively high overall travel speeds, with minimum interference to through movement.

NCRA (North Coast Railroad Authority)

NCUAQMD (North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District)

NHS (National Highway System)

The National Highway System, which is a system of roadways of national significance. These roads would be eligible for additional funding under TEA-21.

OWP (Overall Work Program)

Annual work programs that are prepared by local transportation commissions for the purpose of applying for regional planning funds and other financial resources for the continuous development of regional transportation plans and operation of the transportation system.

PA (Principal Arterial) (Applicable to State Highways in this plan)

Principal arterials are routes of state and regional significance whose design should provide for relatively high travel speeds with minimum interference to the through movement.

 

PPM (parts per million)

"Reasonableness Criteria"

The criteria used to determine if an identified unmet transit need is reasonable to serve using TDA funds as established by the RTPA pursuant to Section 99401.5 (c) of the State Government Code.

RTIP (Regional Transportation Improvement Program)

Document adopted biennially by RTPAs to present transportation improvement funding request to the California Transportation Commission. Replaced the rural county "fact sheet" and comments on Caltrans PSTIP beginning with the 1992 STIP. This 7-Year program must be submitted to the CTC by December 15 of odd numbered years.

RTP (Regional Transportation Plan)

The transportation planning document required by Section 65080 let. seq.) of the State Government Code " Directed at the achievement of a coordinated and balanced regional transportation system" within the area of responsibility of the recognized RTPA. With the passage of SE 1435 in 1992, the due date for the RTP is December l of even numbered years.

RTPA (Regional Transportation Planning Agency)

The regional transportation planning agency established by Government Code Section 29532; the RTPA in Humboldt County is the HCAOG.

Senate Bill 45 (SB 45)

SB 45 states that each transportation planning agency designated under Section 29532 or 29532.1 shall prepare and adopt a regional transportation plan directed at achieving a coordinated and balanced regional transportation system, including, but not limited to, mass transportation, highway, railroad, maritime, bicycle, pedestrian, goods movement, and aviation facilities and services.

SHS (State Highway System)

SHOPP (State Highway Operation and Protection Program)

A state program to rehabilitate and improve safety and operational characteristics on the SHS. SHOPP programs are not included in the STIP and are not counted against county minimums.

SR (State Route)

State Subvention Funds

Transportation planning funds made available to each RTPA under Section 99311.5 of the State Government Code for preparation of RTPs and RTIPs.

STAA Truck

Surface Transportation Assistance Act Trucks of the following lengths:

Tractor-trailer combinations in excess of 65 feet; Semi truck and single axle trailer combinations with kingpin to rear axle length in excess of 38 feet; Semi truck and double axle trailer combinations with kingpin to rear axle length in excess of 38 feet; Trucks with double trailer combinations in excess of 75 feet.

STIP (State Transportation Improvement Program)

The STIP represents the greatest share of state and federal transportation dollars, and has been significantly affected by SB 45. This program contains four years of funding and is updated every two years. In 1998 a supplemental funding process added $1.3 billion worth of projects to the overall program. New funding after this supplement may not be programmed again until after the year 2000.

TDA (Transportation Development Act)

A pool of funds from a 0.25% of the general sales tax established by SE 325 for local transportation purposes, e.g., community level bus service, bikeways, transportation planning, and streets and roads. TDA funds can be spent on streets and roads if and only if there are no reasonable unmet transit needs.

TEA-21 (Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century)

A new piece of federal legislation which establishes a new multi-modal surface transportation program, supports comprehensive transportation and systems planning, and allows for the flexible use of selected Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) grant programs.

Traffic Calming

Transportation techniques, programs, or facilities intended to slow the movement of motor vehicles in order to better accommodate other modes and increase safety. Examples may include medians or bulb outs. 

TDM (Transportation Demand Management)

TSM (Transportation Systems Management)

Short-range improvements to maximize the efficiency of the existing transportation system; includes traffic engineering, public transportation, traffic regulations, pricing structures, bicycle usage, and operational improvements not requiring construction of additional through lanes.

Unmet Needs Hearing

Hearings that are required to be held annually by the RTPA to determine whether or not there are any unmet transit needs that can reasonably be met before TDA funds may be used for streets and roads purposes (see Section 99401.5 and 99401.6, California Government Code).

 

Appendix C 

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC WORKSHOPS

 

May 12, 2003

 

Blue Lake Rancheria Community Center

 

TRANSIT

 

·               Additional transit routes to link with city and County routes. 

·               Additional transit to services in the community.

·               Expanded paratransit service on weekends and holidays.

·               Expanded and coordinated paratransit service between outlying communities and the cities versus transfer to city taxis.

·               Expand transit service to College of the Redwoods – weekends and nights to correspond to class schedules and link satellite CR campuses.

·               There is a desire to “Age in Place” by the elderly.  Need adequate transportation services to address their desire.

·               Initiate the “Ambassador Program” to market transit use.

·               Consider commuter rail.

·               Provide water taxi services.

 

SAFETY

 

·               Close cross traffic along Highway 101 between Arcata and Eureka – severe safety issues.

·               Address safety issues associated with high congestion segments in the County.

·               Consider speed zone study at the College of the Redwoods.

·               Address pedestrian/safety issues along Highway 101 in Eureka.

 

 

RTP ISSUES

 

·               The RTP needs a “Vision Statement”.

·               Projects in the RTP need to be prioritized to determine which projects should receive scarce resources.

·               Provide enhanced coordination and interface with other regions regarding all modes of transportation.

·               Consider allocating unused Tribe funding for transportation projects to Tribes who can use it to fund on-going transit projects.

·               Coordinate with smaller community plans, such as Willow Creek Community Services District.

 

AVIATION

 

·               Include discussion of Humboldt Valley Airport including funding alternatives to use the airport for emergency services.

·               Hoopa Airport currently shut down. Would like opportunities to reopen.

 

ALTERNATIVE MODES

 

·               Reflect the needs of smaller communities in the RTP – all modes including transit, pedestrian needs and bicycling.

·               Reduce reliance on the single occupant vehicle (SOV).  Look at other solutions such as enhanced transit, carpooling, etc.

·               Consider a carpool-matching program, marketing program, and incentives to enhance use of alternative modes.

·               Focus on improved mobility verses reduced congestion.

 

BICYCLING

 

·               Provide for a bikeway along Singley Road.

·               Provide bike and pedestrian amenities along roadways.  The elderly need seating benches.

·               Use the coastal railroad tracks for a bicycle facility.

·               Connect parks, schools and residential areas using bikeways and pedestrian facilities. 

 

 

STREETS AND HIGHWAYS

 

·                  Widen Buckhorn Pass.

·                  Improvement of Old Arcata Road needs to be priority.

·                  Jacoby Road – need additional right-of-way for pedestrians/bikes.

·                  Maintain the existing transportation system.

·                  Eliminate sidewalk gaps.

·                  Consider the reallocation of road funds to other modes.  Increase flexibility of use.

·                  There are only interim solutions in the RTP to address growing road needs along   Broadway.

·                  Hookton Road is too tight for a bus.

 

McKinleyville Azalea Hall

 

TRANSIT

 

·               Improve access for the disabled and others.

·               Transit services in McKinleyville are not located near residential areas.  Consider changing route locations.

 

BICYCLING

 

·               Focus on pedestrian/bike improvements.

·               Complete the Hammond Trail to the High School

·               Provide bike improvements along Murray Road.

·               Need shoulder for bikes along School Road.

·               Consider the placement of trails in the front yards versus at the rear given safety and noise issues.

·               Reduce parking/bicycle conflicts.

·               Provide more Class I bicycle facilities.

 

STREETS AND HIGHWAYS

 

·               Provide for better circulation along Hammond Road.

·               Provide for enhanced road maintenance and landscaping.

 

 

May 13, 2003

 

Eureka City Hall

 

TRANSIT

 

·               Eureka Dial-A-Ride Services - extend hours of operation.

·               Social service agencies should partner with transit agencies to provide for enhanced coordinated transit service. 

 

SAFETY

·               Identify safe routes to school.

 

RTP ISSUES

 

·               Provide for an enhanced visioning process to identify goals, objectives and policies in the RTP.

·               Identify issues in the RTP regardless of funding availability.

·               Consider the impacts of the County General Plan Update during the RTP Update process.

·               Consider overall ADA policy and strategies.

 

AVIATION

·               Address lack of access to Arcata-Eureka Airport.

·               Improve flights at Arcata-Eureka Airport.

 

ALTERNATIVE MODES

·               Provide for enhanced mobility options.

·               Improve and maintain all modes of transportation.

·               Humboldt County is a rural county – need additional resources to address improved access to transportation services.

·               Provide for enhanced access to all modes versus emphasis on relieving congestion along streets and highways. 

·               Discuss and address telecommunications enhancements and issues.

·               Lack of fiber optics improvements – Caltrans/SBC issues.

·               Address the need for conversion of fleet vehicles to alternative fuels.

 

BICYCLING/PEDESTRIAN

 

·               Address vegetation issues along trails and pedestrian facilities.