HCAOG Adopts VROOM 2026-2046 Regional Transportation Plan for Humboldt County

The Humboldt County Association of Governments voted to adopt the 2026–2046 Regional Transportation Plan, branded VROOM, at its Feb. 19, 2026 board meeting and recorded the action in Resolution 26-04. VROOM, Varieties in Rural Options of Mobility, is a 20-year planning document that HCAOG, as the designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency, is required to update every four years.

HCAOG’s materials describe the RTP as “a 20 year planning document that is like a City's General Plan but for regionwide transportation,” and the agency emphasized the plan’s role in communicating regional infrastructure needs to local stakeholders, the State of California, and the U.S. Department of Transportation. HCAOG materials and local coverage note many funding programs require projects to be listed in an RTP to be eligible for funding; HCAOG also framed the document as an opportunity “to have a public dialogue about regionwide needs for transportation infrastructure.”

The administrative lead-up to adoption began with an administrative draft taken to the Technical Advisory Committee, the Social Services Transportation Advisory Council, and the HCAOG Board in November, when committees recommended releasing the draft for public review. HCAOG released a public draft in November and listed an official 30-day comment period in its materials as closing on December 28; several local outlets reported the comment window would close on December 29. HCAOG’s published materials explicitly state the December 28 date.

Public engagement channels included in-person comments, email submissions, and an online survey. Local reporting attributed an HCAOG official as saying the online survey had received “only 100 responses through Wednesday afternoon,” though the report did not specify the calendar date for that count. My Humboldt Life summarized the draft as identifying “more than $1 billion in regional transportation infrastructure needs.”

The adoption prompted responses from advocacy groups and stakeholders before the vote. WildCalifornia and EPIC circulated an action alert titled “Action Alert: Tell the Humboldt County Association of Governments to Stop Spreading Climate Denial in its Regional Transportation Plan,” arguing some proposed changes would undermine climate goals. A December 10, 2025 comment letter from Transportationpriorities, signed by Executive Director Brendan Byrd and sent to HCAOG board and policy advisory committee members, opened by saying the organization appreciated the opportunity to comment and considered the draft to present a strong vision, though the full submission text is not included in available excerpts.

HCAOG’s public contact information for follow-up is listed as 611 I Street, Suite B, Eureka, CA 95501; phone 707-444-8208; email info@hcaog.net; regular business hours typically Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the agency advises callers to call ahead as the office is a small team. Public records available in these source excerpts do not include the full adopted RTP text, the vote tally on Resolution 26-04, or final public engagement totals; those items remain to be obtained from HCAOG for detailed project lists, funding schedules, and implementation steps.