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Comment 44 for Comments on regional targets for SB 375 (sb375-targets-ws) - 1st Workshop.


First Name: Jenny
Last Name: Wilder
Email Address: JensOasis@aol.com
Affiliation: Mojave Group, Sierra Club

Subject: strong targets needed for quality of life
Comment:
Comments on Draft Regional Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction
Targets for Automobiles and Light Truck pursuant to SB375 submitted
by Jenny Wilder on behalf of the Mojave Group, Sierra Club. 
 
Mary Nichols, Chair
California Air Resources Board
1001 “I” Street
Sacramento, California 95814
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/sb375/comments.htm
August 7, 2010
 
Dear Chairman Nichols:
We encourage the California Air Resources Board to support public
health by establishing the most ambitious regional greenhouse gas
reduction targets possible under SB375.

The weak targets contemplated by the majority of metropolitan
Planning Organizations (MPOs) and in particular the Southern
California Association of Governments (SCAG) are far too low to
provide for any improvement in overall greenhouse gas emission
reduction. The weak “per capita” targets proposed by the
majority of MPOs will undermine existing tools to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and could result in greater emissions than would have
otherwise been achieved in the absence of SB 375.

By using such low goals the opportunity to guide development in the
State toward a sustainable future that will provide significant
improvements in public health and environmental benefits will be
lost. Lost too will be the incentive needed to provide for more
livable communities. Such communities include transportation plans
where walking and bicycling are viable alternatives and where the
disabled, young and elderly can get around conveniently on public
transportation. 

Bicycling is the healthiest, cleanest, cheapest, quietest, most
energy efficient and least congesting form of transportation and
needs to be encouraged. Bicycling can get one to the store, job or
school in a much healthier state than by any other means of
transportation. Bicycling should no longer be considered only
recreational, but a part of every community transportation plan, as
should walking.  

Currently leap-frog development resulting in sprawl has failed to
provide for sustainable, livable communities. Such development
encourages the inner city “ghost –town” syndrome that results
in slums and crime and it assumes that everyone has the option of
driving a vehicle. Not everyone has that option.  We must challenge
our regional and local governments to change the way we plan and
develop our communities and transportation systems to reduce
vehicles miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions while also
protecting and improving public health and the environment. 

The claims that adding freeway lanes would reduce GHG emissions is
flawed.  Despite this claim it remains obvious to most observers
that building more highways would conflict with the
climate-changing objectives that we seek.  The HOT lane program
would not “move us in the right GHG direction.” People who can
afford to drive will not reduce their driving and increase their
transit-riding until there is a public transit alternative in place
that is both well-integrated and reliable.  These are obtainable
objectives, but it will take a concerted regional transportation
planning effort to achieve them.  Every freeway should have a clean
alternative such as rail or dependable bus service.

For the reasons set forth above, we urge ARB to adopt strong
targets that require the transformational shift in land use and
transportation polices envisioned under SB 375.

Sincerely, 
Jenny Wilder, Chair, Mojave Group, Sierra Club

Attachment:

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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2010-08-09 07:11:51



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