Arcata to Eureka Bike and Pedestrian Trail

By David "Dave" Meserve

It's time to build the trail now!

Since that time the Arcata Environmental Services Division has commissioned an engineering study of a trail next to the rails, extending from the Arcata Skate Park to the Bracut Industrial Park on Highway 101. Bid-ready plans are now completed, and it seems likely that the project will obtain grant funding and move forward in the near future.

However the trail continuing from Bracut to Eureka remains in limbo, with no real progress having been made in the past four years. I believe that the key to breaking the current adversarial deadlock between trail activists and the railroad is to include Caltrans in the planning process. Caltrans is mandated to build non-motorized infrastructure if it will enhance safety or traffic circulation, but their current plan for the Arcata-Eureka Corridor includes no trail facilities. If we convene a planning group including trail advocates, the County, the cities of Arcata and Eureka, the NCRA, and Caltrans, then I believe that we can find consensus and funding to build the rest of the trail

I pledge to actively support this effort and to move towards actually beginning construction of the trail within the next four years.