TransForm has released a new study that discloses that people in California can meet the greenhouse gas reduction targets by changing their car culture. The study titled, ‘Windfall For All: How Connected, Convenient Neighborhoods Can Protect Our Climate and Safeguard California’s Economy,’ has found that the people who live in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and the Bay Area spend less amount of money in transportation than the other communities that live in areas where public transportation facility is limited.
The study finds that if people in these areas had better access to transportation, the state would be able to save as much as $31 billion annually on the cost of transportation and emit 34% less greenhouse gas emissions.
The study discusses in detail, how in cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and the Bay Area, where more options for public transportation are available, people can achieve less greenhouse gas emissions. The study also provides proof to support how SB375, California’s groundbreaking law, can help develop walker friendly areas and generate more choices for transportation from one place to another. Also, the law is believed to be able act as an economic driver that can help lower both private and public transportation costs.
The SB375 law is also said to help increase revenues to local governing bodies. The SB375 law can help both the government and the consumers to save money.
The study has found from the findings that among the four areas, Bay Area residents saved more transportation costs per year. The location had the potential to displace 42% greenhouse gases if all residents lived in areas with strong public transport facilities while Los Angeles can reduces gas emissions by 38% under similar circumstances. Sacramento and San Diego possessed the capability for achieving 27% and 30% lower greenhouse has emissions, respectively.
The report has included case studies from diverse groups of the population, which includes people living in Windsor, Marin County and San Jose. The study has also come out with some recommendations for the people of California, which will help them to enjoy the economic and environmental benefits of SB375 in the future. The recommendations list down in detail the action plan to achieve those benefits. They include providing funds to cities and counties for community planning, integrating economic analysis in planning, providing funds for public transportation, and assuring that new developments will have lower pollution level.
In order for SB375 to be implemented, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) needs to develop a draft emission reduction target, which relates to planning and transportation for 18 metropolitan regions in California. The final targets will be adopted by ARB at the end of September, 30, 2010.
Source: www.transformca.org
