Transit operations in California are primarily funded by fares, and a “Local Transportation Fund” generated by a quarter cent sales tax, part of the Transportation Development Act (TDA). In the neighboring counties of Mendocino, Trinity and Del Norte, these TDA funds from the sales tax are spent almost entirely on transit with some money going to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Not so in Humboldt County.

Because of a joint powers agreement between the cities and the county dating back to the 1970s, our TDA funds are divided amongst the entities. This effectively shields a large proportion of the funds from an annual “unmet transit needs process” that is meant to direct TDA funds to the most pressing transit improvements.

Under this scheme, Redwood Transit System has experienced overcrowding and still lacks Saturday evening and Sunday service. Meanwhile, $1.25 million in TDA funds are annually redirected to subsidize automobile infrastructure. Most of the road subsidy goes to County roads (74%), with the rest going to Fortuna (15%), Rio Dell (6%), Ferndale (4%) and Trinidad (1%). This road subsidy only boosts the County’s road budget by about 10% because roads already have other bigger sources of revenue. The combined TDA road subsidy could nearly double the crowded Redwood Transit System’s financial support, reducing delays, increasing bus frequency and covering more times, like Sunday.

If you think transit funds should be used to fund transit, and you live in a city that instead subsidizes roads with TDA funds, let your city council know. And wherever you live, talk to your County Supervisor about it.