From: Aaron Antrim (aaron «at» arcatacommunity.org)
Date: 10 July 2007 12:03:15 AM PDT
To: lglass «at» ci.eureka.ca.gov, pendert «at» ci.eureka.ca.gov, jleonard «at» ci.eureka.ca.gov, kerrigan «at» ci.eureka.ca.gov, mjones «at» ci.eureka.ca.gov, byoung «at» ci.eureka.ca.gov, cityclerk «at» ci.eureka.ca.gov, virginia «at» ci.eureka.ca.gov, mknight «at» ci.eureka.ca.gov, dmoody «at» ci.eureka.ca.gov, Paul Pitino (ppitino «at» arcatacityhall.org), Neleen Fregoso (nel «at» hta.org), Greg Pratt (greg «at» hta.org), mail «at» hcaog.net
Subject: Traffic signal prioritization for buses

Eureka city councilors and staff, Humboldt Transit Authority staff, and others:

I read the recent Eureka Reporter article on the Eureka City Council's approval of a contract to study the potential for regional traffic signal coordination with interest.

I recently learned that the new hybrid buses that are being operated by RTS and ETS are equipped to work with traffic signal prioritization systems. I realize that the City of Eureka has commissioned the study to explore traffic signal computer systems, not hardware upgrades on traffic signals themselves, but this still seems like an extremely appropriate time to discuss signal prioritization for buses, and how it can be included, or at least be accounted for, as part of a regional traffic signal coordination project.

As a bus rider, I can say that RTS buses are frequently late, and understandably so. They are caught up in the stop-and-go stream of signal-controlled traffic on the Eureka 101 corridors. This study, "Service Reliability Impacts Of Traffic Signal Priority Strategies For Bus Transit" shows signal prioritization has been successful at improving the schedule reliability of bus service with minimal effects on other traffic.

Please tell me how my comments will be taken into account, and, when it is complete, the results of the study.

Sincerely,
Aaron Antrim