The Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG), our regional transportation planning agency, is inviting residents to help shape the future of mobility in Humboldt County through the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Update. The RTP is a policy document that guides transportation priorities and funding for the next twenty years. It influences everything from road maintenance and safety improvements to public transit, bike and pedestrian facilities, and planning for zero-emission vehicles.
A draft of the document titled Varieties in Rural Options of Mobility (VROOM) 2026 – 2046 is now available to review at https://www.hcaog.net/regional-transportation-plan-update. The comment period on the public draft will close on Monday December 29th. Community input – whether made in-person, by email, or through the online survey – will directly inform strategies to make travel safer, more efficient, and more accessible for everyone but especially for vulnerable users such as seniors, youth, people with disabilities, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders.
“The transportation system is our region’s largest, and arguably most critical investment,” said Brendan Byrd, Executive Director of HCAOG. “We want to hear from as many folks as possible about their transportation-related priorities so that we can help make sure our regional investments continue to reflect our local needs.”
The draft plan identifies over $1 billion in funding needs for local streets and transportation infrastructure projects such as road rehabilitation, trails, bridges, interchanges, roundabouts, and bike lanes. In the public transportation sector, proposed long-term projects would increase service to every 15-minutes, add Sunday buses, and modernize the fleet at a cost of $300 million.
Share your voice to help Humboldt’s transportation system grow more resilient and better connected. Take a quick 10-minute survey to register your input at: bit.ly/HumboldtRTP2026
About HCAOG
The Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) is a Joint Powers Authority composed of the County of Humboldt and the seven incorporated cities. HCAOG is the designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for Humboldt County and leads the Regional Transportation Plan, ensuring safe, sustainable, and efficient mobility options for all residents.
This article appears in My Humboldt Life December 2025.