beyond sustainable communities

Beyond Sustainable Communities

A Transitional Moment for Regions

Jacob LiebSustainability Manager

For California Planning RoundtableNovember 9, 2013

Regionalism?

• Regions are the critical unit for most issues– Growth– Economy– Environment– Transportation

• Regional government is another story– MPOs, COGs, special districts

Anticipated Future Growth, SCAG Region

3

Quest for Relevance and Visibility

Recent Past

• Blueprint Plans• Popular Member

Programs • Regional

Comprehensive Plans

• Changes in Transportation Planning

• SB 375!

What regional agencies are good at• Data

• Technical analysis and tools

• Coordination• Consensus building

• Member service

What regions struggle with• Top down policy and mandates• Mediating differences and disputes• Balancing planning requirements and member

orientation

So are Regional Agencies Emerging?

SB 375 in Retrospect

• Started out as CEQA reform• Regional agencies as instrument of state

growth policy• GHG or other outcomes?• Procedural or high level policy instrument?• Big deal or not a big deal?

SB 375 to Date

SCSs complete in 4 large regions• GHG targets met• Viewed as successBUT . . .

SB 375 to Date, Cont.

• 50% lawsuit rate in large regions

• What’s up with CEQA streamlining?

• Follow through(a mixed bag)

A Little Bit About the Plans

• Continuing progress on land use efficiency• Transit and active transportation investment• SCAG major push on transportation

finance/pricing• Lots of public involvement and meaningful input• Other key policies

– TDM– Vehicle Technology

13

3 Overarching Strategies

allocate

ONLY 13%capital investment

to highways

focus over

50%growth within

3%land area

FROM 7:3single- vs. multi-

family units

TO 3:7

Outcomes of the RTP/SCS A More Sustainable Region

• Exceeded requirements

• Reduced GHG and VMT

• Improved health outcomes

• Economic growth and jobs

• Fresh outlook on transportation finance

• Many other co-benefits

-Energy, water, open space conservation

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Year Target2012

RTP/SCS Results

2020 8% 9%2035 13% 16%

State MandateSB 375 GHG Reduction

focus over50%

growth within3%

land area

HQTAs (2035)

Major issues to be worked out• Scoping Plan Update• Cap and Trade

Investments• ZEV Action Plan• SB 743 and further

CEQA tinkering• Strategic Growth

Council post-Prop 84

What happens next

• More questions than answers– Integration of AB 32– Effective CEQA changes– Real investment– Conclusion of legal challenges

What regions are doing to follow up

• Implementing plans• Local assistance

programs• Joint work with

County Transportation

Commissions• Looking for money

Thank You!