March 5, 2026
To: Amy Nilsen, City Manager, City of Fortuna
From: Brendan Byrd, HCAOG Executive Director, HCAOG
Subject: Agency Comment Period Regarding Major Transit Stop Additions and Methodology in 2026 RTP Update
Dear Mrs. Nilsen,
At their meeting on February 19th, the HCAOG Board approved expanding the definition of a ‘major transit stop’ as defined the Humboldt County Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), VROOM 2026-2046. As part of the proposed expansion, all regional transit stops with at least 50 passenger boardings/alighting’s are included, which in the final draft RTP resulted in 14 newly proposed designed major transit stops. One of the proposed new stops is located in the City of Fortuna, at 11th and N Streets (a Redwood Transit System stop).
As part of the final Board motion adopting the 2026 RTP, the proposed major transit stop in Fortuna was removed from the final document pending a formal notification and comment period for the City. This letter is to inform you of the proposed addition of Fortuna’s major transit stop designation at 11th and N streets, and requests that the City consider the revision and methodology and provide written comments back to HCAOG by Friday May 8th. HCAOG staff are planning on bringing this item back to the HCAOG Board with Fortuna’s input at the May 21st HCAOG Board meeting.
For reference, major transit stops designed in the RTP provide for the following outcomes:
• AB 2097 (2022) prohibits local governments from enforcing minimum parking requirements for most developments within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop; and
• AB 2553 (2024) says that agencies cannot justify new or higher traffic impact fees at qualifying stops and projects in the 1/2 mile buffer; and • OPR guidance presumes that projects within 1/2 mile of major transit stops have less than significant VMT impacts which can streamline CEQA review.
If you have any questions or need information on appeal limitations, please contact me at (707) 444-8208 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Brendan Byrd, PE
Executive Director
Humboldt County Association of Governments
HCAOG
Regional Transportation
Planning Agency
611 I Street, Suite B
Eureka, CA 95501
707.444.8208
Fax: 707.444.8319
www.hcaog.net
Members:
City of Arcata
City of Blue Lake
City of Eureka
City of Ferndale
City of Fortuna
City of Rio Dell
City of Trinidad
County of Humboldt