Tonight the Eureka City Council will discuss the “Eureka North-South Multimodal Corridor Plan,” a project aimed to improve pedestrian and bike safety between J and E Streets, from Sixth Street to Harris Street. The plan would potentially reduce the number of traffic lanes on H and I Streets from three lanes to two.

“A key decision point in determining what physical form the project will move forward is whether or not the reduction of vehicle travel lanes on H Street and I Street from three lanes to two is acceptable to Council,” the staff report states.

The City of Eureka shared a video on their Facebook page today of Director of Public Works Brian Gerving and Traffic Project Manager Scott Ellsmore explaining the project.  Unfortunately the City couldn’t figure out how to flip the video, making the presentation difficult to read.

The City has received a Caltrans Sustainable Communities Grant (SCG) to put towards this project. The Council’s decision tonight is to choose one of three potential options, two of which would reduce the number of traffic lanes on H and I streets, and direct staff to seek additional grant funding for the construction.

Some people are not too happy about the potential change to H and I streets and the effect it could have on traffic. Local CPA and City Council candidate John Fullerton wrote a letter to the Times-Standard, saying that he thinks this plan will actually make conditions less safe for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Some folks have also expressed concern about the City of Eureka’s collaboration with Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA) on the plan, citing it as a potential “conflict of interest” due to councilmember Natalie Arroyo’s involvement with the agency.

The Council will deliberate this item and hear public input at the Eureka City Council meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at Eureka City Hall, 531 K Street Eureka.

The full draft of the Multimodal Corridor Plan can be viewed here.