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