Michael Winkler's Position Papers

1. Energy Independence
2. Medical Marijuana and Grow Houses
3. Arcata Plaza and the Homeless
4. Local Economic Development
5. Affordable Housing
6. Relationship between HSU and the City of Arcata
7. Transportation

City of Arcata Transportation

Transportation is one of the largest expenses for the citizens of Arcata and has major environmental, social and land use impacts. To maximize benefits while minimizing costs and negative impacts I propose the City of Arcata do following:

1. Arcata General Plan 2020 - Transportation Element

• Implement Transportation Element of Arcata General Plan 2020

2. Traffic Demand Management/Parking Demand Management

• Develop transportation and parking demand management plan to minimize driving and minimize demand for parking
• Promote walking, bicycling, and public transportation as alternatives to driving
• Modify Arcata Plaza to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, while keeping it open to traffic to minimize impact on local businesses
• Do not build downtown parking structure

3. Transportation (private motor vehicles)

• Create fact sheet on local and global environmental impacts of automobiles and on making choices with lower impacts (better vehicles, alternatives to cars).
• Publicize existing ordinance for free parking at City meters for zero-emission vehicles

4. Non-Motorized Transportation

• Complete network of sidewalks and bicycle trails by filling network gaps identified in Transportation Element of Arcata General Plan 2020

5. Public Transportation

1. Work with AMRTS, Eureka Transit and Humboldt County Transit, Blue Lake Casino Transit, and other transit systems in Humboldt County to:
   1. Improve coordination and cooperation between transit systems
   2. Create one ticket to allow transit on all systems within the county
   3. Create single, integrated Humboldt County transit system
2. Encourage and provide financial incentives for City employees to use public transit
3. Make transit maps and schedules available at City Hall
4. Include transit information in city mailings to citizens

6. Transportation (City vehicles)

• Create City fleet that includes gasoline/electric hybrids, bicycles, electric bicycles and 1 & 2-person electric vehicles
• Create policy for City employees to use the smallest and most efficient vehicle that is feasible for each purpose
• Purchase plug-in hybrids when they become available

7. Rail

• Preserve existing rail rights of way and prevent them from being developed for non-transit purposes
• Allow some redevelopment of existing rights of ways as "rails with trails"
• Support development of an Arcata Bay excursion train
• Support long-term development of regular passenger and freight rail within the county