Cal Poly Humboldt details phased Foster campus connectivity plan; neighbors raise safety and parking concerns

Cal Poly Humboldt outlined a phased ‘‘Foster’’ campus infrastructure project intended to introduce basic utilities and active‑transportation links to a largely undeveloped property, then opened the proposal to city questions and public comment.

Mike Fisher, acting vice president for administration and finance at Cal Poly Humboldt, told the Arcata City Council on Dec. 17 that the presentation is an initial ‘‘phase 0’’ designed to bring power, water, sewer, parking and pedestrian/bike access to a portion of the Foster 2000 site. Fisher said the university is pursuing a class‑1 trail within an existing rail right‑of‑way, mitigation for small wetland areas, lighting and a shuttle alternative to reduce vehicle trips; the proposal remains in the California Environmental Quality Act review and has been revised after community feedback.

The project team described three distinct campus nodes — a main campus to the east, the Foster site to the west and a northern property — and said the project aims to improve nonmotorized connections between them. Fisher said the proposed trail would ‘‘bring people off the road on the trail making sure they can reach back to campus,’’ and that a full, realignment of Foster Avenue with a bridge is a longer‑term, higher‑cost possibility beyond the current phase.

During public comment, resident Britney Villagran said many neighbors in the ‘‘Bottoms’’ area were unaware of the project and described repeated near‑misses with cars near 17th and Alliance. Villagran warned that a shuttle scheduled every 15 minutes could create dozens of shuttle trips daily and more on‑street parking by students: "If the shuttles happen and they're every 15 minutes, that's about 88 shuttles a day," she said, adding that nearby streets already feel unsafe for pedestrians and children.

Councilmembers pressed staff and the presenter on design and safety tradeoffs. Fisher and staff said the initial work is intentionally modest — focused on utility infrastructure and a trail — and that larger realignment or bridge projects would require separate funding and permitting. Staff also noted CEQA review and public engagement that led the team to retool access and circulation plans.

Next steps: the university will continue CEQA work, respond to public comments and coordinate with the city on permitting and potential funding partnerships. The council did not take a formal vote on the Foster project at the Dec. 17 meeting; staff and the university said they will return with future updates.