A Way to Fight Climate Change and Fund Public Transportation
An incredible 50% of the Bay Area's greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation (and nearly 40% statewide!).
So how are we supposed to cut our emissions 80% by 2050 if all we get are funding cuts for the very thing that reduces greenhouse gas emissions from transportation: public transit? We can't!
That's why TransForm is working on legislation that would let regional agencies ask voters to approve a climate impact fee on gasoline or vehicles that would improve public transportation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2009, we're supporting SB 205, which gives voters the option of raising vehicle license fees to fund local transportation improvements.
In the 2008 legislative season, we sponsored AB 2744 and actively supported AB 2558. AB 2744 (Huffman) would have given Bay Area voters the chance to approve a greenhouse gas mitigation fee of up to 10 cents per gallon on motor vehicle fuel, with the revenues funding a "Transportation Fund for Climate Protection". AB 2744 was defeated by a narrow margin in the Assembly Transportation Committee. AB 2558 (Feuer, Huffman) would have give any region in California a similar opportunity.
While both bills had tremendous support from environmental and transportation advocates, the opposition from special interests (led by oil and gas companies that are among the most profitable the world) was intense. The Western States Petroleum Association, The California Chamber of Commerce, and AAA, came out in full force to oppose these bills.
Transportation accounts for nearly 40% of California's GHG emissions. TransForm is working to enable the Bay Area and other California regions to raise fees on gas or vehicles in order to reduce emissions and improve our transportation system.
SB 375's Potential for Reforming Transportation and Land Use
For the past 50 years, poorly planned growth has led to an almost complete reliance on cars and transportation is now the largest and fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in California.
California's groundbreaking 2008 law, SB 375, has created an incredible window of opportunity to reduce emissions, clean our air, reduce traffic and save families money.
In September 2010, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets from transportation for each of the state's 18 major regions. These targets are emissions reductions per capita.
TARGETS
Region
2020
2035
SCAG (Southern CA)
8%
13% (or more)
MTC (Bay Area)
7%
15%
SANDAG (San Diego)
7%
13%
SACOG (Sacramento)
7%
16%
San Joaquin Valley
5%
10% (to be revisited in 2012)
Now, each region is working on their strategy to implement meet these targets through Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS's). Under SB 375, a region should achieve an SCS by aligning long-term land use blueprints, regional plans for housing all residents of all incomes, and transportation investment plans.
TransForm is also helping lead efforts to make the Bay Area's SCS a model for sustainability and equity.
Learn more about SB 375 and how regions throughout the state are implementing it by visiting ClimatePlan, a collaboration of environmental, social equity, health and other organizations. TransForm co-founded, fiscally sponsors and provides programmatic support for ClimatePlan.
Read TransForm's Windfall for Allreport that outlines how the policies that SB 375 calls for can dramatically reduce households' costs and reduce expenses for strapped local governments at the same time as they promote healthier neighborhoods and protect our climate.
SB 375 provides an historic opportunity to create sustainable communities that reduce the amount we have to drive, clean our air and reduce costs to families.
TransForm was deeply involved in shaping the proposal for a high-speed rail system in California that voters supported in November 2008. We worked with California's environmental community to identify key improvements to be incorporated into the project. As result of our work, the California High-Speed Rail Authority voted to pursue running the train on carbon-free, renewable energy!
TransForm believes that high-speed rail is a critical component of supporting focused growth and integrated transit systems for communities throughout California.
President Obama recently released a national high-speed passenger rail plan, along with $8 billion in economic recovery funding to help make this a reality.
President Obama talks about the need to invest in high-speed rail and California's leadership with the recent passage of Prop 1A.
The passage of Proposition 1A in November 2008 provides $9.95 billion dollars to catalyze the development of the 800 mile high-speed rail system; this combined with economic recovery funds gets California much closer to bringing high-speed rail to life.
The fully completed high-speed train system will run between San Diego and Sacramento, with connections to the Bay Area. View the system map on the California High-Speed Rail Authority website. Like high-speed trains in Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world, California's high-speed train would run at speeds of over 220 miles per hour, making the trip between San Francisco's Transbay Terminal and Los Angeles' Union Station in two and a half hours.
TransForm will continue bringing together partners to make sure the project is well-designed and has the funding it needs to be built.
California is the twelfth largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, and nearly 40% of the state's emissions come from the transportation sector. California's landmark legislation, AB 32, requires greenhouse gases to return to 1990 levels by 2020 and to achieve levels that are 80% lower than 1990 levels by 2050.
High-speed rail (HSR) will help to achieve the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals by replacing car and airplane trips with rail trips. The California Air Resources Board has included the HSR project in the draft AB 32 Scoping Plan. By 2030, when the whole system is in place, HSR travel is anticipated to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions by up to 12 billion pounds of CO2 per year.
At their September 2008 meeting, the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board approved a goal of using 100% renewable, carbon-free electricity to run the system. Doing so would ensure the emission reduction benefits are not reduced by the consumption of electrical power. Read the feasibility study.
A report by the Center for Clean Air Policy, a non-profit based in Washington DC, and the Center for Neighborhood Technology analyzed proposals for high-speed train systems across the United States. They concluded that the emissions savings in California were equal to the savings in all of the other 11 corridors they studied -- combined. That is due to the high population densities (which will be much higher in 2030) and the significant air travel that will be replaced. The other systems were generally slower too, more similar to Amtrak's Acela system used on the East Coast.
Smarter Land Use
In a major victory for the environmental community, the California High-Speed Rail Authority committed a few years ago to rejecting the easier I-5 Alignment through farms and open space and to focusing new stations in downtowns and at existing transit hubs. The development of a high-speed train linking California's major cities to each other could help retain existing downtowns as the primary economic centers of California. But as was learned from BART's early years, good land use does not automatically follow new transit; policies must be in place to link investments in the high-speed train with supportive land use.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority has adopted land use guidelines that call for a mix of uses, compact development patterns, limited, market-rate parking, and bicycle and pedestrian access to ensure that the neighborhoods around stations will support livability and higher transit use.
The Authority has hired a world-class team led by Prof. Elizabeth Deakin at UC Berkeley to help develop a plan for Central Valley stations. It is now bringing world-renowned Peter Calthorpe on board to build a vision for land use along the whole HSR corridor.
Read TransForm's 2007 article in SPUR's newsletter on the potential for smarter land use, and a great overview of the California High-Speed Train.
It should be noted that Proposition 1A specifically prohibited the development of a station between Gilroy and Merced, addressing a concern about the potential to induce sprawl if a station was built in Los Banos.
California's high-speed trains will use state-of the-art electrified vehicles capable of speeds of up to 220 mph, similar to those currently operating in Europe and Asia. The line will consist of new infrastructure often in or alongside existing transportation corridors. The entire HSR system will be grade-separated from parallel and crossing roads. Designed in coordination with the state's existing public transit network, the trains have the potential to share tracks at reduced speeds with conventional trains such as Caltrain and will act as a strong feeder system to urban transit systems.
Video: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Improved Transit
The high-speed rail bond helps fund upgrades to local and regional rail lines including grade separations, electrification of rail lines, and station improvements. It will also support local transit by infusing thousands of riders into transit hubs every day.
A Better Alternative to More Highways and Airports
California is going to reach a population of 50 to 60 million people over the next 25 to 45 years. There is going to be a growing need to accommodate the growing travel demand. When we don't provide access to effective transit, the demand for highways and airports intensifies greatly.
The environmental footprint of new highways is tremendous; widening existing roads requires large new interchanges and expanded feeder roads. In contrast, a HSR system will largely rely on existing rail corridors.
When we consider spending public dollars on the high-speed rail system, we must weigh this project against the costs of alternatives. For example:
Caltrans estimates it will cost about $6 billion (2006 dollars) to widen Highway 99 from four lanes to six. Meeting interstate requirements and widening to eight lanes is estimated to cost $20-25 billion. [Caltrans (2005). Route 99 Corridor Enhancement Plan: Unifying the Aesthetic Treatment of Highway Improvement.] Demand for this project is intense; it was the only project earmarked in the recent transportation bond.
The California Transportation Commission identified $28.5 billion in high priority highway expansion projects for a 10-year period. Over two-thirds of these dollars are needed for projects in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Riverside -- all areas that would be served by HSR. [California Transportation Commission (1999). Inventory Of Ten Year Funding Needs for California's Transportation System. Total cost adjusted to reflect 2007 dollar value.]
The cost of all construction in the LAX Master Plan is estimated to total $11 billion. [Master Plan LAX. About the Program: Frequently Asked Questions.]
About Proposition 1A, the High-Speed Rail Bond that Passed in November 2008
TransForm and many members of the Regional Coalition had a significant impact on the proposal for a high-speed train system in California that culminated in Proposition 1A. TransForm led the effort to have the California High-Speed Rail Authority agree to power the train entirely with renewable energy. The Authority also agreed to fund community-based plans near future train stations, require bicycle and pedestrian access and supportive land uses, and protect important wetlands.
After a five-month process with significant input from TransForm's regional coalition, TransForm's Board of Directors voted to support Proposition 1A: the High-Speed Rail ballot measure. Passage of Proposition 1A provides $9.95 billion dollars to catalyze the development of the 800 mile high-speed rail system, and make improvements to existing rail networks. Read the announcement by Stuart Cohen, TransForm's Executive Director, in November 2008.
In November 2008, Californians voted to support Proposition 1A, a large down payment to make high-speed rail a reality in California.
The State of Transit, Walking and Biking in the Governor's Proposed Budget
Governor Brown recently released his proposed 2012/13 budget. Below is a summary of key items from the budget proposal related to TransForm’s legislative agenda.
Cap and Trade Revenues Best Hope in 2012 for Expanded Transit Funding
For 2012, the mechanism that appears to hold the greatest potential for bringing significant new dollars to transit is the nascent Cap and Trade Program developed by the Air Resources Board under AB 32 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Initial estimates are that the program could bring in up to $1 billion the first year and then ultimately many billions of dollars each year over time as the program expands.
In his recently released 2012/13 state budget, Governor Brown proposes allocating cap-and-trade revenues to: clean and efficient energy programs; natural resource protection; low-carbon transportation, including transit; and sustainable infrastructure development, including transportation and housing.
TransForm applauds the governor’s proposal. The only way to guarantee lower GHG emissions from the transportation sector is to reduce overall driving -- and that means giving people real travel options and linking mixed income housing and other development with enhanced transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities. As the reduction of GHG emissions from the land use and transportation sector demands long-term investments in expanded and improved transit, housing and other major infrastructure, TransForm agrees with the governor that these types of investments should be a priority in the allocation of cap-and-trade revenues.
We are working aggressively in the capitol to ensure that transit receives its fair share of funding from the cap and trade revenues.
Governor Projects Small Increase in State Transit Assistance and More Bond Funds for Transit in 2012/13
Governor Brown’s 2012/13 budget proposal shows State Transit Assistance (STA) funding for local transit agencies, derived from the sales tax levied on diesel fuel, as being projected to increase from about $400 million for fiscal year 2011/12 to a little more than $420 million for 2012/13.
This should provide a small amount of additional operations and maintenance support for agencies that are extremely cash-starved after many years of cutbacks. But this small uptick won’t make a dent in restoring the billions in transit cuts over the last decade and will not help transit agencies meet increased demand.
With regard to Prop 1A and 1B bond funds approved by the voters and available for transit, the governor is proposing potentially significant increases for the 2012/13 cycle. Unfortunately, these monies are not available for most operations and maintenance expenses, the most acute need.
Governor Proposes More Funds for Bike and Ped Facilities; Much More Needed
The governor proposes a significant increase in funding for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, from approximately $7.2 million dollars in 2011/12 to almost $12 million in 2012/13. While we appreciate that the percentage increase is significant, the actual dollar amounts being proposed are still woefully inadequate to the need. And the governor has not justified why his budget proposal leaves unspent an additional $5 million in reserves that is currently sitting in the Bicycle Transportation Account.
As more Californians are walking and biking, there is a huge demand across the state for improved sidewalks and bike lanes. There is also a huge safety need for these improvements: pedestrians and bicyclists are injured and killed at higher rates per accident than automobile drivers.
Investments in bike lanes and sidewalks are the most cost-effective transportation improvements. They are relatively inexpensive (compared to other types of transportation investments) and they provide tremendous positive returns: improved safety, better public health, and even higher property values.
TransForm is working to get all available funds allocated to bicycle and pedestrian investments in this budget cycle and also to set up year-over-year increases in allocations to speed up the transformation of local streets and roads across California to accommodate all users.
CA Transportation Commission Releases "Needs Assessment" - $142 Billion Needed to Preserve Transit for Next Decade
The California Transportation Commission recently released a Statewide Transportation Needs Assessment and the findings are sobering to say the least. Public transportation is facing a whopping $142 billion in repairs and maintenance over the next 10 years - but revenues are projected to fall far short of the need.
Increased funds are necessary to ensure that transit agencies can fully cover their costs going forward -- most urgently for operations and maintenance but also for targeted expansions to meet increased demand. It is going to take a series of challenging, major policy reforms to ensure that transit funding is fully adequate to meet the need in California for the next many decades.
Invest in Transit is a statewide campaign targeted at California's leaders to make public transportation fast, frequent and affordable. It was launched in response to crippling shortfalls for public transportation, continued state funding cuts, and a recognition that our economy, environment, and quality of life truly ride on whether or not we invest in transit now. Since 2000, billions of dollars in state transit funding have been redirected to help balance the state budget.
Invest in Transit seeks to show our leaders that individuals, businesses, and organizations across the state want to get public transportation back on track. Please sign the campaign petition today to show your support for fully funding California's transit systems.
Get More Involved
TransForm's Sacramento office is busy with activity as we ramp up our efforts to convince state leaders to support significant policy reforms to fully fund transit. Visit our Invest in Transit campaign site or contact ourState Policy Director, Graham Brownstein, for more information.
In recent years we've experienced repeated cuts to transit funding and service. Meanwhile ridership keeps increasing dramatically, leaving transit agencies struggling to meet the demand. And we won't be able to grow our economy or meet greenhouse gas reduction goals without expanded and improved transit service. We need long-term solutions to the transit funding crisis. TransForm's Invest in Transitcampaign aims to help clean up the mess.
