The Humboldt County Association of Governments Policy Advisory Committee discussed draft recommendations from the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for 2026 STIP programming and the region’s RTIP on Oct. 16. PAC members directed staff to carry the TAC’s draft RTIP into the November process and forwarded the package to the HCOG board for final action.

Staff described STIP as a biennial five‑year, state‑funded programming cycle funded from the State Highway Account. HCOG staff reported the regional target for programming in the 2026 cycle is about $2,334,000. The TAC recommended programming about $3,000,000—which represents roughly $650,000 of overprogramming by borrowing against future STIP shares—in order to fund five projects across the region and fund full phases where possible.

TAC recommended the following draft funding allocations (recommended amounts shown as TAC draft recommendation):

- Arcadia (South Arcadia Multimodal Safety Improvement Project/SAM SIP): $700,000 for PA&ED (project initiation/environmental and preliminary engineering).
- City of Blue Lake (final phase of truck route project): $625,000 for construction of a priority subphase.
- City of Eureka (Hawthorne and Humboldt bike boulevard project): $750,000 for construction; staff noted the project was not listed in the 2022 RTP and would require an RTP amendment to be eligible.
- City of Ferndale (Francis Street/Eugene Street sidewalk and ADA infill): $425,000 to complete one of three submitted projects; the TAC recommended the city’s priority project.
- City of Fortuna (Kenmore and Ross Hill Road intersection improvement project / PA&ED): $500,000 for PA&ED to continue a multi‑phase interchange and connectivity program.

Staff explained that the region’s estimated STIP capacity for new programming is constrained for the next several years because of State Highway Account shortfalls and prior overprogramming in 2024; the earliest years that new programming can be used are fiscal years 2029–30 and 2030–31. TAC members prioritized funding a combination of PA&ED for larger transformational projects (Arcadia, Fortuna) while advancing construction‑ready or smaller projects (Eureka, Blue Lake, Ferndale) so that as many projects as possible could be advanced across jurisdictions.

During public comment, Colin Fisk with Citizens for Responsible Transportation Priorities urged HCOG and the TAC to prioritize projects that demonstrably advance the RTP’s adopted goals (safe, sustainable mode shift, equity), and said he had “concerns about the Fortuna project” because its description “is primarily designed to increase vehicular capacity and reduce congestion and encourage future growth,” which he said would increase vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and conflict with RTP and state goals. Fisk also questioned whether the TAC’s recommendations were the product of objective alignment with RTP goals or negotiation among jurisdictions and submitted data showing per‑resident funding differences across jurisdictions.

Staff and meeting participants responded to the VMT and alignment concerns by describing project context. HCOG staff and a city of Fortuna representative said the Kenmore/Ross Hill improvements are intended to support infill redevelopment (including a vacant mill site the city sees as a potential major job center) and to close bike/pedestrian gaps that currently prevent safe access to the Riverwalk, Strongs Creek Trail and the future Great Redwood Trail. Staff noted that some projects recommended by the TAC would require RTP amendments (Eureka, Ferndale) to be eligible for STIP funding and that TAC intentionally recommended a limited amount of overprogramming so more projects could be funded now rather than fewer projects now and none in the near term.

PAC members asked clarifying questions about overprogramming mechanics (staff explained overprogramming borrows from future STIP shares) and about equity considerations. Several PAC members directed staff to forward public comment from CRTP to the TAC and asked TAC to review alignment between projects and the RTP goals as part of the November RTIP process.

The PAC voted to forward the TAC’s draft RTIP and STIP recommendations (including the proposed overprogramming) to the HCOG board for consideration. When the HCOG board reconvened at the end of the PAC session, members moved to reconvene as the HCOG board and approve the PAC recommendations; that motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Next steps: staff will return a draft RTIP (programming years and phases) to the TAC and then to the HCOG board for adoption at the November meeting; staff also noted required RTP amendments for certain projects would be included as part of the RTIP adoption process.

Votes at a glance

- PAC forwarded TAC RTIP/STIP recommendation (program $3,000,000 with about $650,000 overprogramming) to the HCOG board — PAC vote: passed (voice vote, unanimous); forwarded to HCOG board for final action.
- HCOG board motion to reconvene and approve PAC recommendations — passed (voice vote, unanimous).