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Our current transportation planning process is geared toward
reducing congestion and does not take into account GHG emissions
reduction.  Nearly all of the regional transportation plans in the
state will result in increases in emissions over the next 20 years,
not reductions.  The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation
Authority, Draft 2008 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP, p. 15)
indicates that transportation related greenhouse gas emissions in
Los Angeles County will increase by 35% between 2004 and 2030. 
Implementation of the LRTP will reduce these emissions by less
than 1%.

The current transportation planning process is primarily focused
on reducing traffic congestion.  If we want people to reduce their
automotive emissions then we need to substantially expand our
public transportation system.  I know that up until recently, it
has been difficult to get people to use public transportation, but
it looks like that is changing.  As fuel prices increase as a
result of world markets and AB 32 implementation, we are going to
see more and more people turning to public transportation and it
is important that we provide the infrastructure to expand the
viability of this alternative.  Smart growth will result in
emissions reductions only if we have sufficient public
transportation to accompany it.

A suggested approach is to supplement the current transportation
planning process with a GHG emissions reduction planning process. 
The transportation authorities could assess total public
transportation and other projects that would be needed to reduce
regional transportation GHG emissions by 30% from BAU. These
projects would then be in line to be funded through AB 32 revenues
generated from transportation and fuel related measures.