Del Norte LTC adopts 2024 Regional Transportation Plan and mitigated negative declaration

The Del Norte Local Transportation Commission on Feb. 4 unanimously adopted a 2024 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and an accompanying mitigated negative declaration after a presentation from consultant Jeff Schwein of Green Dot Transportation Solutions.

The RTP is a four‑year “mini‑update” to a 20‑year planning document that regional officials said is required to secure state and federal transportation funding. Schwein summarized the plan’s structure and finance tables and told commissioners the short‑range (next 10 years) includes about $326 million in identified projects while the long‑range (years 11–20) lists roughly $860 million; the draft also shows an unfunded project need of about $482 million.

Why it matters: adoption of the RTP and its environmental finding is a prerequisite for the region to remain eligible for state and federal transportation funds and to set local priorities for road, transit, bicycle/pedestrian and other multimodal investments.

Schwein said the RTP groups projects by mode and funding source and noted that not all identified projects have committed funding. “The final RTP is ready for your action today,” Schwein told the commission during the presentation.

Tamara (staff member) described the decision to pursue a limited update rather than a full, more expensive overhaul. She said the commission worked with city and county planning staffs, the airport, the harbor and neighboring counties and that the RTP update incorporated comments from Caltrans, tribal entities and environmental groups.

Commissioners asked follow‑up questions during discussion. One commissioner noted a change in the bridge inventory between 2018 and 2020 and asked which bridges have low sufficiency ratings; Schwein said Caltrans monitors sufficiency ratings and the commission would need to check Caltrans records to determine whether a bridge was decommissioned, removed or reclassified. Tamara told the commission she would follow up with Caltrans for specifics.

Commissioner Short also raised a question about a tribal name change referenced in the draft RTP; Tamara said she would make the change only after receiving written notice from the tribe and Caltrans, noting she had not yet received formal documentation and therefore was reluctant to change the name in the adopted document without verification.

Action: The commission moved to adopt “Resolution 20 20 five‑one, approving the 2024 Elmer Regional Transportation Plan and mitigated negative declaration” (motion text read from the floor). A roll call recorded votes of "Yes" from Commissioner Dooley; Commissioner Short; Commissioner Howard; Commissioner Altman; Jesse Robertson; and Chair Greenout; the motion passed.

What’s next: Tamara and staff will finalize the adopted RTP document and the signed mitigated negative declaration so local agencies can proceed with programming and funding applications.

Votes at a glance: • Motion to adopt RTP and mitigated negative declaration (motion read at meeting): Passed (roll call yes votes recorded from Commissioners Dooley, Short, Howard, Altman, Jesse Robertson and Chair Greenout).