Reconnecting Communities: Highways to Boulevards State Pilot Program

AGENCY NAME

PROJECT TITLE

CATEGORY

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

City of Arcata

Reconnecting Arcata- The Arcata Cap

Rural

The Reconnecting Arcata Project seeks to address mobility and accessibility challenges caused by three state highways (US 101, SR 255, and SR 299) through comprehensive planning efforts. The project emphasizes meaningful input from partners and the public, leveraging existing local planning initiatives. Following a community driven process, key solutions may include a new transit center, potential freeway cap or new crossings, and enhancements to active transportation.

The State Highway System is the most significant barrier to transportation in Arcata. It restricts Arcata residents' access to the Cal Poly Humboldt campus, and student housing neighborhoods, which is surrounded by low-income, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Bridging this gap would help lower health risks while providing more active transportation options. The proposal included opportunities to contribute to the preservation of existing biological corridors connecting the Arcata Community Forest, the Mad River, and Humboldt Bay and to help accelerate the building of affordable housing and mixed-use developments.

San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)

Reconnecting Southeastern San Diego and National City

Corridor

The Reconnecting Southeastern San Diego (SESD) and National City Project intends to holistically improve transportation options with the objective of reconnecting and reshaping land for the benefit of the community. After the construction of the Interstate 805 Corridor dating back to 1967, the communities of SESD and National City have been deeply affected by the history of redlining and dividing infrastructure.

SANDAG has partnered with the City of San Diego, National City, Caltrans, and the community-based organizations Urban Collaborative Project, Groundworks San Diego-Chollas Creek, Mundo Gardens, to ensure this project fulfills the objectives and the vision of the surrounding communities. In alignment with the Promise Zone Initiative, this project intends to restore power to residents of SESD and National City and to identify priority projects that will best serve the needs and wants of the neighboring communities with facilities that may include bicycle and pedestrian connections, light rail enhancements, bus shelters, the creation of parks, and green and communal spaces.

San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA)

Connect 4 South San Francisco (Connect4SSF)

Urban

The Connect4SSF Project aims to improve connections between local neighborhoods in South San Francisco, such as Lindenville, Orange Park, Downtown South San Francisco, and the East Side. Historically, these communities have been divided from the rest of the city by infrastructure such as the US 101, El Camino Real, Colma Creek, and railroad tracks. These barriers, combined together, cause significant access issues for South San Francisco residents and workers. Connect4SSF seeks to remove or resolve these barrier impacts by improving access along and across priority corridors and by improving the areas around these barriers into desired destinations. The project will strengthen connections between transportation, housing, jobs, and parks and open spaces by establishing biking, pedestrian, transit, and open connections.