Humboldt County Association of Governments staff told the Policy Advisory Committee on Oct. 16 that HCOG was awarded a Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning grant under the Strategic Partnerships for Transit program and recommended selecting a consultant team to deliver the comprehensive, multi‑jurisdictional planning work.

Staff said the partnership includes nine entities: HCOG (lead), Humboldt Transit Authority (secondary applicant), and seven subapplicant partners that include the Trinidad Rancheria, the Yurok Tribe, county planning and building, and the cities of Arcadia, Blue Lake, Eureka and Trinidad. Staff said the city of Eureka opted out of receiving reimbursement but is contributing to the local match.

HCOG received seven proposals that represented twelve firms; a five‑person scoring committee (HCOG staff, a social services transportation advisory council member, a representative from Trinidad Rancheria and county planning staff among others) recommended a DKDKS team that includes Jarrett Walker & Associates and GHD. Staff said Jarrett Walker & Associates provides national expertise in transit planning; GHD includes staff from a local office in Eureka. Staff recommended receiving public comment and adopting the TAC recommendation (the staff report noted a typographical error on item 3 and staff said agencies would not be presenting proposals at the PAC meeting).

A PAC member moved to adopt the staff recommendation (except for the typographical error on item 3); the motion was seconded and carried unanimously by voice vote. There was no public comment on the consultant selection.

The recommended consultant team will work with HCOG and partner agency staff on a range of deliverables to strengthen local transit‑land use relationships, build local planning expertise, and develop a comprehensive region‑wide transit plan under the Caltrans grant. HCOG staff said funded tasks include reimbursing staff time for participating local agencies and that the project will require substantial administrative coordination.

The PAC action will be forwarded to the HCOG board for final approval and contract authorization.