”We planned this workshop expressly to see if we could attract Southern Humboldt residents,” said George Williamson of Plan West. Plan West is the contractor hired to write the RTP for the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG).
One of the Southern Humboldt residents noted that more residents would have attended, but they couldn’t find a ride. No one from Rio Dell attended the workshop, but Fortuna resident and supervisor candidate Clif Clendenen came. He said he was “getting educated” on transportation issues.
The format of the workshop included a presentation by Tiffany Wilson on how the plan was prepared, assisted by Jan Rice, a trails expert with RCAA and Tom Matson of Public Works.
Wilson said that the plan was guided by the goals, policies and objectives of HCAOG, and included projects that might be done in the future “if funds become available.”
”Funding for expansion is not in the picture,” she said. “Funding is drying up on the vine.”
Attendees Eric Fimbres and Mark Schaffner (who sits on the HCAOG Advisory Board) noted that the data collected to form a basis for the plan was all collected in Eureka, Fortuna, and McKinleyville and that this skewered the results to the north. The referred to a transportation plan being developed by Caltrans - the Wilson-Igard Plan - which has also had public meetings. Wilson said that plan was “referenced” in the HCAOG plan, but she indicated that the two planning process are running on separate tracks and not coordinated with each other.
When pressed on that issue by Fimbres she said he would have to take that up with HCAOG. She said also that the data was not representative of Humboldt County but of the people who came to the meetings.
”A good number of us are here today about the Quail,” Amy Hensell said. “We are worried about it and afraid it’s being taken away from us.”
This was shown to be true when Wilson broke the group up to honor the format of small group discussion, all but two of the attendees opted for the table discussing “paratransit,” the term used for services like the Quail. Schaffner and Clendenen volunteered to discuss trails and goods movement with Rice.
Reference to the Quail in the draft plan was confined to a paragraph and the first thing the discussion group did was correct the information presented. The Quail takes people over 60 and certified disabled persons to Eureka for medical appointment and shopping on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. It makes the trip to Fortuna for medical appointments and shopping on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, it provides transportation to the senior lunch at the Healy Center and on Fridays, it takes people to medical appointments and shopping in the Garberville/Redway area. Driver Jan Riber said her schedule is flexible and that the Quail also stops at yard sales, the bank, the library and wherever her riders need to go. Riding on the Quail is done by reservation, made at least 24 hours in advance.
”She’s a dandy bus driver,” Amy Hensell testified, a sentiment supported by all the other attendees.
Wilson was also made aware of problems with the service. These include the fact that it has become more difficult for handicapped individuals to qualify for riding the Quail. They are required to go to Eureka, get a doctor’s certification, and provide a photo identification to get on the bus, all of which is very difficult for someone without transportation in the first place. Those attending wanted these restrictions modified to make it easier for disabled to use the Quail.
Another problem is that when Quail riders get to Eureka or Fortuna, they are not eligible to use the Dial-A-Ride services in those communities to get around independent of the Quail.
Linda Sutton noted that when the Quail first began, the age limit was 55. Now it has been raised to 60. She said also that in the beginning the Quail was supposed to be part of a system where “feeder-vans” picked up people in the outlying areas and brought them to the Quail.
The Quail is built to carry 16 passengers, but can only carry 14 because the seats over the wheel well are so uncomfortable.
And, it was noted, the regulations did not allow use of the Quail to attend the workshop in Rio Dell.
Fimbres complained that there was a “lack of understanding of Southern Humboldt culture” and so concerns were not being responded to. He said he needed a way to get Redwoods Rural patients to medical appointments. He said also that there were probably more than 20 individuals working at Redwoods Rural, the Healthcare District, the school district, and AEE Solar who are commuting daily from the Fortuna area to work in Southern Humboldt. He said those represented potential bus riders who were going un-served.
The fact that only one copy of the plan was available south of Fortuna was also seen as a problem. The planners sent a copy to the Chamber of Commerce, but none was sent to the Garberville Branch Library. It can be accessed online, but this limits accessibility for most of the people who are served by the Quail.
Wilson said she understood the frustrations that come from attending years of workshops and not seeing any results, but she urged everyone to continue to press their case for more service. She indicated that sometimes it takes years of complaining and commenting to get results. And she assured everyone that their comments were being included in the draft plan.
Matson, after listening to the group’s comments said it all came down to the fare box.
”What changes could make the Quail successful?” he asked. “If it goes on like it is, it will be canceled.”
In the past, someone was donating a substantial sum to offset the Quail’s operating deficit. That donation has ceased, but donations could keep it running. However, Matson stressed that perhaps addressing the difficulties faced by some riders and increasing the ridership would increase the viability of the service.
The trails and goods movement group, Schaffner and Clendenen, suggested that the area along the Avenue of the Giants could be made safer for cyclists by making an effort to control the speed of drivers on that road. They also suggested that the Richardson Grove project include a bike trail which would get the cyclists off the road and they called for more multi-use trails.
Schaffner noted that a diagonal crosswalk was needed in Miranda for safer pedestrian crossing in the area of the high school.
Wilson assured everyone that their comments would be presented to the HCAOG board of directors at their meeting the following week. She also said that comments can be made by phone, by mail or by email.
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