Comment Log Display

Subject: Comments on ARB AB 32 Climate Scoping Plan               
July 30, 2008

Mary Nichols, Chair,
California Air Resources Board ,
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Chair Nichols:

Knowing that Cities produce seventy-five percent of all the
world’s greenhouse gas emissions, while the US consumes major
portion of petroleum production and emits sixth of the worlds
greenhouse gases while comprising of twentieth of its population,
reducing emissions will require strong measures and changes in
lifestyle.

As a 32 years former Elected AC Transit and BART Director, active
with TRB 20+ years, retired 37 years Public Works Engineer and
traveled widely outside North America over dozen trips examining
developments.  It is clear that we need to coordinated and
integrated developments for most all their major urban areas emit
fare less Greenhouse Gases whereas, the Bay Area produces 50% of
its GHG from transportation alone.

Curitiba, Brazil is an excellent prime example where 40% of the
total trips are by transit!  They accomplished this by carefully
coordinating development to transit.  They also developed a
regional land use plan that reduced flooding from storms,
developed regional parks, improved waste recycling and improved
overall well being for their citizens from this comprehensive
coordinated regional plan.

Currently Curitiba has one of the highest income per capita with
highest per capita auto ownership in Brazil yet they still managed
to have 90% of the peak hour travel via transit.  Moreover, I
understand that Curitiba emission is 30% per capita of what we
emit.

This was accomplished under great leadership using a comprehensive
coordinated regional plan.     

AB32 is an excellent bill that should include where cities comply
to similar comprehensive coordinated regional plan that includes
more Transit Oriented Development that reduces the demand on the
use of the auto. Included with the integrated TODs, it should
impose a tax on excessive parking, unbundled parking on use of
property, establish maximum parking ratio rather than minimum and
emphasize walkability which will materially reduce GHG.  

I have examined TODs in Sweden and Japan where a town center with
department stores including public offices are built around a rail
station and parking is treated as a secondary access mode which is
moved several blocks from the station.

Some of the large buildings in Japan even have installed dual
water systems that use recycled water for non-potable needs.  

So, I believe as a primary focus we need to consider an integrated
comprehensive coordinated regional land use development plan that
includes transit along with various other forms of recycling if we
are to reduce GHG to any degree.

Sincerely,

Signed Roy Nakadegawa P.E.

Roy Nakadegawa P.E.
751 The Alameda
Berkeley, CA  94707
Ph.  510-526-5094
e-mail;  rnakadegawa@myfastmail.com