PREVIOUSLY: MORE ARCATA ROUNDABOUTS?! Arcata City Council to Vote on ‘Sunset Avenue Interchange Improvement Project’ During Tonight’s Meeting

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The nightmarish intersections on Sunset Avenue near Cal Poly Humboldt will soon(ish) be replaced by two roundabouts, after the Arcata City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the U.S. 101 and Sunset Avenue Interchange Improvements Project. 

Before the council took its vote, City Engineer Netra Khatri provided some details and background on the project, which has been in the works for about a decade. Khatri explained that the City – along with Cal Poly Humboldt and Caltrans, which are both partners on the project – discussed other possible solutions for addressing the congested and dangerous intersections, including adding traffic signals, but ultimately found that roundabouts would be the safest and most effective solution. 

In addition to construction two roundabouts on Sunset Avenue – one at the intersection of G Street, H Street and Southbound 101 on/off ramps, and the other at the intersection of LK Wood and the Northbound 101 on/off ramps – the project will also include adding more crosswalks with flashing beacons, additional landscaping and the construction of a 10-foot-wide Class 1 shared bike path for pedestrians and cyclists. Khatri explained that the shared path will eventually connect to the Annie and Mary Trail, a planned trail project that will connect Arcata and Blue Lake via the Arcata- Mad River rail corridor. 

Several community members shared their thoughts during public comment, mostly in enthusiastic support of the project, which they felt was very needed to address the traffic issues on and near Sunset. But some commenters had concerns about the details of the project, including the proposed shared pathway and that the design would require cyclists to merge with traffic at the roundabouts.

Project design from the City of Arcata, edited to highlight the slip lane

Another concern brought up by several people was the inclusion of a slip lane running from Sunset Ave to H Street that would allow vehicles to bypass the roundabout when turning right onto H Street. Colin Fiske of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities (CRTP) questioned the safety of including the slip lane, which he said would cause people to speed, defeating the purpose of the roundabout. 

“The only reason for [slip lanes] is congestion management, which is not a high priority for the city anymore,” Fiske said. 

Khatri addressed some of the slip lane concerns, saying that the speed limit would be 25 mph, and that the design could be changed to include some speed reduction measures, such as adding additional lights, signage or a raised crosswalk at the intersection.  

Some of the councilmembers also had concerns about the slip lane and bicycle safety, and councilmember Kimberly White said she would really like to see a separate bike lane included in the design. Khatri said that, although a separate pedestrian path and bike lane would be ideal, there isn’t enough right of way space in some sections of the project area to accommodate a separate bike lane and a pedestrian trail. 

White also asked about the overall cost for the project, which Khatri said would be between $17 and $18 Million. The City has currently obtained funding for the design portion of the project, but is still identifying funding sources for construction. Cal Poly Humboldt has agreed to chip in $2.5 million for the project, Khatri said, and the City is in the process of applying for grants. 

Ultimately, the council voted unanimously to approve the project, which will come before the council for another review when the design is 60 percent complete. The goal, Khatri said, is to finalize the design by 2025 and to start construction in 2026.

Closeup of the roundabout designs below: