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CommentsandResponses
ADOPTEDAPRIL2012
2
Index(ALPHABETICAL)
Affiliation SubmittalID
AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty 001,002AmericanLungAssociation 003,004AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers 005AmeronInternationalCorporationWaterTransmissionGroup 006
ArroyoVerdugoSubregion 007AssociationofCaliforniaCitiesOrangeCounty 008AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia 009BREATHELA 010BrooksStreet 011BuildingIndustryAssociationofSouthernCalifornia 012,013BurbankGlendalePasadenaAirportAuthority 014CaliforniaDepartmentofParksandRecreation 015CaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealth 016CaliforniaDepartmentofTransportation 017CaliforniaEnvironmentalAssociates 018CaliforniaNaturalGasVehicleCoalition 019CaliforniaRuralLegalAssistance,Inc. 020CaliforniaTruckingAssociation 021CanyonLandConservationFund 022CentennialCalifornia 023CenterforDemographicResearch 024CitizensAllianceforPropertyRights 025CitizensAllianceforPropertyRights,VenturaCounty 026CityofAlhambra 027CityofAnaheim 028CityofBrea 029CityofBurbank 030CityofChino 031
Affiliation SubmittalID
CityofChinoHills 032CityofColton 033CityofCypress 034CityofDiamondBar 035CityofGlendale 036CityofHemet 037CityofHighland 038CityofIrvine 039CityofLaCanadaFlintridge 040CityofLaHabra 041CityofLakeForest 042CityofLosAngeles 043CityofNewportBeach 044CityofOntario 045CityofOxnard 046CityofPalmdale 047CityofPasadena 048CityofPicoRivera 049CityofRanchoSantaMargarita 050CityofRiverside 051CityofSanClemente 052CityofSanJacinto 053CityofSantaAna 054CityofSantaClarita 055,056CityofSouthPasadena 057,058CityofStanton 059CityofThousandOaks,PublicWorks/Transit 060CityofTustin 061CleanAirNow 062
3
Affiliation SubmittalID
CleanEnergy 063ClimatePlan 064CoachellaValleyAssociationofGovernmentsandWesternRiversideCouncilofGovernments 065
CountyofLosAngelesBoardofSupervisors 066CountyofLosAngelesDepartmentofPublicHealth 067CountyofOrange 068DesertXpressEnterprises,LLC 069downeygreen 070Editor,ElToroInfoSite 071EnvironmentalProtectionAgency 072FourCornersCoalition 073FriendsofCoyoteHills 074FriendsofHarbors,Beaches,andParks 075GatewayCitiesCouncilofGovernments 076GlobalLandUseandEconomicCouncil 077Governor'sOfficeofPlanningandResearch 078GRID/ECSTCSystems 079HighgroveAreaRedevelopment 080,081HillsForEveryone 082HumanImpactPartners 083ImperialCountyAirPollutionControlDistrict 084KohlRanchCompanyLLC 085LA32NeighborhoodCouncil 086LA32NeighborhoodCouncilandNELACoalition 087LatinoHealthAccess 088LosAngelesAllianceforaNewEconomy 089LosAngelesCountyBicycleCoalition 090LosAngelesCountyBusinessFederation 091LosAngelesCountyDepartmentofPublicHealth 092LosAngelesCountyDepartmentofRegionalPlanning 093LosAngelesCountyMetropolitanTransportationAuthority 094,095,096
Affiliation SubmittalID
LosAngelesWorldAirports 097MarchJointPowersAuthority 098Mobility21 099MoveLA 100,101NAIOP 102NaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil 103,104NO710ActionCommittee 105,106OrangeCounty(multipleagencies) 107OrangeCountyBusinessCouncil 108OrangeCountyCouncilofGovernments 109OrangeCountyRenewableEnergySociety 110OrangeCountyTransportationAuthority 111,112,113OrangelineDevelopmentAuthority 114PasadenaChamberofCommerce 115PhysiciansforSocialResponsibility,andOtherOrganizations(collaborativeletter) 116
PortofLongBeach 117,118PuenteChinoHillsTaskForceoftheSierraClub 119RealtorsCommitteeonAirQuality 120RegentProperties 121RegionalHispanicChamberofCommerce 122ReservationTransportationAuthority 123RiversideCountyDepartmentofPublicHealth 124RiversideCountyPlanningDepartment 125RiversideCountyTransportationCommission 126,127,128RiversideTransitAgency 129SafeRoutestoSchoolNationalPartnership 130,131,132SanBernardinoAssociatedGovernments 133SanFernandoValleyCouncilofGovernments 134SanFernandoValleyGreenTeam 135SanGabrielValleyCouncilofGovernments 136SanGabrielValleyEconomicPartnership 137
4
Affiliation SubmittalID
SanGorgonioSierraClub 138SanManuelBandofMissionIndians 139SantaMonicaMountainsConservancy 140SiembabCorporation 141SierraClub 142SouthBayCitiesCouncilofGovernments 143SouthCoastAirQualityManagementDistrict 144SouthernCaliforniaAssociationofNonProfitHousing 145SouthernCaliforniaBusinessCommunity 146SouthernCaliforniaContractorsAssociation 147SouthernCaliforniaContractorsAssociation,Inc. 148SouthernCaliforniaEdison 149SouthernCaliforniaGasCompany 150SouthernCaliforniaLeadershipCouncil 151,152SouthernCaliforniaRegionalRailAuthority 153StephenWRogersP.E.Consulting 154,155,156Supervisor,FirstDistrict,CountyofVentura 157TheAmericanInstituteofArchitects 158,159TheCenterforCommunityActionandEnvironmentalJustice 160
TheKennedyCommission 161TheTransitCoalition 162TransitCoalition 163TransportationCorridorAgencies 164Trustee,SanBernardinoCommunityCollegeDistrict 165,166,167,168UnitarianUniversalistLegislativeMinistry 169UrbanandEnvironmentalPolicyInstituteOccidentalCollege 170
ValleyIndustryandCommerceAssociation 171VCCool+VenturaBicycleUnion 172VenturaCountyAirPollutionControlDistrict 173
Affiliation SubmittalID
VenturaCountyClimateCareOptionsOrganizedLocally 174WesternStatesPetroleumAssociation 175WildlifeCorridorConservationAuthority 176WRAC 177NoAffiliation/Individuals 176through303
5
Index(BYTYPEOFGROUP)
Affiliation SubmittalID
CountyTransportationCommissions LosAngelesCountyMetropolitanTransportationAuthority 094,095,096OrangeCountyTransportationAuthority 111,112,113RiversideCountyTransportationCommission 126,127,128SanBernardinoAssociatedGovernments 133Subregions ArroyoVerdugoSubregion 007CoachellaValleyAssociationofGovernmentsandWesternRiversideCouncilofGovernments 065
GatewayCitiesCouncilofGovernments 076OrangeCountyCouncilofGovernments 109SanFernandoValleyCouncilofGovernments 134SanGabrielValleyCouncilofGovernments 136SouthBayCitiesCouncilofGovernments 143LocalAgencies CityofAlhambra 027CityofAnaheim 028CityofBrea 029CityofBurbank 030CityofChino 031CityofChinoHills 032CityofColton 033CityofCypress 034CityofDiamondBar 035CityofGlendale 036CityofHemet 037CityofHighland 038CityofIrvine 039CityofLaCanadaFlintridge 040
Affiliation SubmittalID
CityofLaHabra 041CityofLakeForest 042CityofLosAngeles 043CityofNewportBeach 044CityofOntario 045CityofOxnard 046CityofPalmdale 047CityofPasadena 048CityofPicoRivera 049CityofRanchoSantaMargarita 050CityofRiverside 051CityofSanClemente 052CityofSanJacinto 053CityofSantaAna 054CityofSantaClarita 055,056CityofSouthPasadena 057,058CityofStanton 059CityofThousandOaks,PublicWorks/Transit 060CityofTustin 061CountyofOrange 068Supervisor,FirstDistrict,CountyofVentura 157AssociationofLocalAgencies AssociationofCaliforniaCitiesOrangeCounty 008CenterforDemographicResearch 024FourCornersCoalition 073OrangeCounty(multipleagencies) 107
6
Affiliation SubmittalID
OtherImplementingAgencies BurbankGlendalePasadenaAirportAuthority 014CaliforniaDepartmentofTransportation 017DesertXpressEnterprises,LLC 069LosAngelesWorldAirports 097MarchJointPowersAuthority 098OrangelineDevelopmentAuthority 114PortofLongBeach 117,118RiversideTransitAgency 129SouthernCaliforniaRegionalRailAuthority 153TransportationCorridorAgencies 164OtherGovernmentAgencies CaliforniaDepartmentofParksandRecreation 015CaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealth 016CountyofLosAngelesBoardofSupervisors 066CountyofLosAngelesDepartmentofPublicHealth 067EnvironmentalProtectionAgency 072Governor'sOfficeofPlanningandResearch 078LosAngelesCountyDepartmentofPublicHealth 092LosAngelesCountyDepartmentofRegionalPlanning 093PasadenaChamberofCommerce 115ReservationTransportationAuthority 123RiversideCountyDepartmentofPublicHealth 124RiversideCountyPlanningDepartment 125SanManuelBandofMissionIndians 139SouthCoastAirQualityManagementDistrict 144VenturaCountyAirPollutionControlDistrict 173NonGovernmentalGroups AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty 001,002AmericanLungAssociation 003,004AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers 005
Affiliation SubmittalID
AmeronInternationalCorporationWaterTransmissionGroup 006
AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia 009BREATHELA 010BrooksStreet 011BuildingIndustryAssociationofSouthernCalifornia 012,013CaliforniaEnvironmentalAssociates 018CaliforniaNaturalGasVehicleCoalition 019CaliforniaRuralLegalAssistance,Inc. 020CaliforniaTruckingAssociation 021CanyonLandConservationFund 022CentennialCalifornia 023CitizensAllianceforPropertyRights 025CitizensAllianceforPropertyRights,VenturaCounty 026CleanAirNow 062CleanEnergy 063ClimatePlan 064downeygreen 070Editor,ElToroInfoSite 071FriendsofCoyoteHills 074FriendsofHarbors,Beaches,andParks 075GlobalLandUseandEconomicCouncil 077GRID/ECSTCSystems 079HighgroveAreaRedevelopment 080,081HillsForEveryone 082HumanImpactPartners 083ImperialCountyAirPollutionControlDistrict 084KohlRanchCompanyLLC 085LA32NeighborhoodCouncil 086LA32NeighborhoodCouncilandNELACoalition 087LatinoHealthAccess 088LosAngelesAllianceforaNewEconomy 089
7
Affiliation SubmittalID
LosAngelesCountyBicycleCoalition 090LosAngelesCountyBusinessFederation 091Mobility21 099MoveLA 100,101NAIOP 102NaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil 103,104NO710ActionCommittee 105,106OrangeCountyBusinessCouncil 108OrangeCountyRenewableEnergySociety 110PhysiciansforSocialResponsibility,andOtherOrganizations(collaborativeletter) 116
PuenteChinoHillsTaskForceoftheSierraClub 119RealtorsCommitteeonAirQuality 120RegentProperties 121RegionalHispanicChamberofCommerce 122SafeRoutestoSchoolNationalPartnership 130,131,132SanFernandoValleyGreenTeam 135SanGabrielValleyEconomicPartnership 137SanGorgonioSierraClub 138SantaMonicaMountainsConservancy 140SiembabCorporation 141SierraClub 142SouthernCaliforniaAssociationofNonProfitHousing 145SouthernCaliforniaBusinessCommunity 146SouthernCaliforniaContractorsAssociation 147SouthernCaliforniaContractorsAssociation,Inc. 148SouthernCaliforniaEdison 149SouthernCaliforniaGasCompany 150SouthernCaliforniaLeadershipCouncil 151,152StephenWRogersP.E.Consulting 154,155,156TheAmericanInstituteofArchitects 158,159
Affiliation SubmittalID
TheCenterforCommunityActionandEnvironmentalJustice 160
TheKennedyCommission 161TheTransitCoalition 162TransitCoalition 163Trustee,SanBernardinoCommunityCollegeDistrict 165,166,167,168UnitarianUniversalistLegislativeMinistry 169UrbanandEnvironmentalPolicyInstituteOccidentalCollege 170
ValleyIndustryandCommerceAssociation 171VCCool+VenturaBicycleUnion 172VenturaCountyClimateCareOptionsOrganizedLocally 174WesternStatesPetroleumAssociation 175WildlifeCorridorConservationAuthority 176WRAC 177NoAffiliation/Individuals NoAffiliation/Individuals 176through303
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
00101 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
Weareaneworganizationandwearesupportive ofthisPlan,butwewantyoutounderstandtheimportancethatthishasinimpactingthehealthofOrangeCounty,particularlyinreducingtheobesityrate.WehopethatthePlanwillhighlightthehealthimpactthatthiskindofdevelopmentcanhave.Wewanttoworkwiththecitiestohelpthemimplementthestrategies,andhelpthemseehowwecangetcitiestoworktogethertoimplementmorecompletestreets,morewalkablecommunitiesbecausewebelieveitwillimprovethehealthofthecommunity.
Commentnoted.SCAGiscommittedtoworkingwithlocaljurisdictionsintheirdevelopment,implementation,andmaintenanceoflocalactivetransportationplans;thisincludesencouragingtheadoptionofCompleteStreetspolicies.
00201 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
TheAllianceurgesSCAGtoconsidertheimportanthealthimpactsoftheRTPandplaceincreasedemphasisonprojectsthatwillpromoteactivetransportation.Theregiondoesnotneedaplanthatallocates$22billiononroadwideningandonly$6billiononactivetransportation.Itiscriticaltochangefundingallocationstoimprovesafetyandpublichealththroughoutourregion.
Commentnoted.The20122035RTP/SCSallocatesapproximately$6.7billiontowardsActiveTransportationinvestments.Inresponsetotheoverallfeedbackwehavereceivedandbasedonfinalreconciliationofourfinanceplan,staffispleasedtonotethatthefundingforActiveTransportationhasactuallybeenincreasedby$700millionovertheDraftRTP/SCSthatwasreleasedforpublicreviewandcomment.Thisrepresentsanincreaseofmorethan270%overthecommitmentsmadeinthe2008RTP.Furthermore,thisdoesnotaccountfortheestimated$4.1billion,webelievethelocaljurisdictionswillbespendingonActivetransportationovertheplanperiodbasedontheircurrentexpenditurepattern.StaffwillcontinuetoevaluatingfundingforActiveTransportationandpursuenewfundingsourcesinfutureRTPupdates.
00202 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
WerequestthatSCAGamendtheDraftRTP/SCStoincludethefollowing:1.IncreasetheoverallpercentageofRTPfundsdedicatedtoactivetransportationfrom1.3percentofthe2012RTPto58percentofthetotal2012plan.
Commentnoted.The20122035RTP/SCSallocatesapproximately$6.7billiontowardsActiveTransportationinvestments.Inresponsetotheoverallfeedbackwehavereceivedandbasedonfinalreconciliationofourfinanceplan,staffispleasedtonotethatthefundingforActiveTransportationhasactuallybeenincreasedby$700millionovertheDraftRTP/SCSthatwasreleasedforpublicreviewandcomment.Thisrepresentsanincreaseofmorethan270%overthecommitmentsmadeinthe2008RTP.Furthermore,thisdoesnotaccountfortheestimated$4.1billion,webelievethelocaljurisdictionswillbespendingonActivetransportationovertheplanperiodbasedontheircurrentexpenditurepattern.StaffwillcontinuetoevaluatingfundingforActiveTransportationandpursuenewfundingsourcesinfutureRTPupdates.
00203 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
2.Prioritizeactivetransportationfundinganddistributethesefundsevenlyoverthe25yearperiodoftheplansothatthebenefitsofactivetransportationarebroughttoOrangeCounty
Commentnoted.SCAGcannotunilaterallychangetheneartermcommitmentsthatarealreadyinplace.Significantincreaseinfundingforactivetransportationproposedinthe2012RTP/SCS
9
ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
sooner. islargelypredicatedonadditionalrevenuesfromnewsourcesthatwillrequirefutureactionsatthestateand/orfederallevels.Therefore,theplanrealisticallyassumesthatthesefundswillnotbeavailableinthenearterm.Theearliestthesefundsareexpectedtobeavailableis2026.
00204 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
3.IncorporatethedevelopmentofanActiveTransportationFinanceStrategicPlanby2014thatidentifieshoweachCTCisspendingfundsandtheopportunitiesavailabletoincreasefundingforactivetransportation.
Commentnoted.
00205 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
4.Allocatefundingforbicycleandpedestrianplanningandusagecounts.
Commentnoted.SCAGhasidentifiedthatimproveddatacollectionregardingpedestrianandbicycletripcharacteristics,facilityconditions,andinjuriesandfatalitiesisnecessarytodevelopaclearunderstandingofactivetransportationconditions.SCAGacknowledgesthatthisdatacollectionisnecessarytoimprovedecisionmakers'understandingofthedeficienciesandneedswithintheexistingactivetransportationsystem.
00206 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
5.SetasidefundingintheRTPtosupportSCAGcitiesindevelopingbicycleandpedestrianmasterplans,saferoutestoschoolplansandADAtransitionplans.Establishagoalthat50%ofSCAGcitiesshalldeveloptheseplansby2016.
Commentnoted.SCAGiscommittedtoworkwithlocaljurisdictionsinthedevelopment,implementation,andmaintenanceoflocalactivetransportationplans;thisincludestheincorporationofBicyclePlans,PedestrianSafetyActionPlans,SafeRoutestoSchoolpolicies,andADAcompliance.
00207 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
6.AdoptaRegionalCompleteStreetsby2014:Thisplanwillincorporateinputfromlocaljurisdictionstoprioritizecompletestreetsprojectsinprogrammingeffortsanddedicateaportionofsystempreservationandmaintenancefundingforimprovingtheroadconditionsofallusers.
Commentnoted.SCAGiscommittedtoworkingwithlocaljurisdictionsintheirdevelopment,implementation,andmaintenanceoflocalactivetransportationplansandpolicies,includingCompleteStreetspolicies.
00208 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
7.AdoptSafeRoutestoSchoolregionalStrategicPlanby2014 Commentnoted.TheActiveTransportationAppendixincludesGoal3:IncreaseActiveTransportationUsageintheSCAGRegionbyCommentnoted.AdoptingaSafeRoutestoSchoolPolicy.SCAGiscommittedtoworkingwithlocaljurisdictionsintheirdevelopment,implementation,andmaintenanceoflocalactivetransportationplansandpolicies,SafeRoutestoSchoolpolicies.
00209 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
8.SchoolSitingandJointUsePoliciesshouldbeincorporatedaslanduseelementsoftheSCS.
Commentnoted.The20122035RTP/SCShasbeenupdatedtoaddresscomment,asappropriate.
00210 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthy
9.Setmeasurablesafetyandhealthgoalsforallusers:Goalsaresetforthereductionofgreenhousegasesinthedraft2012
Commentnoted.SCAGsTransportationSafetyChaptersetsforthgoalstoreducetransportationrelatedfatalitiesin
10
ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
OrangeCounty RTP/SCS.Activetransportationplaysapivotalroleinthereductionofthesegreenhousegases.Similarmeasurablegoalsshouldbesetforreducingcrashratesforactivetransportationandforreducingthehealthimpactsofobesity.Thesecouldincludeareportonthenumberofchildrenwalkingandbicyclingtoschoolacrosstheentireregionaswellasareportdetailingaccesstoparks,openspacesandqualityactivetransportationnetworks.
absolutenumbers.ForBicycling,reducethenumberofbicycleroadwayfatalitiesby25percentlessfromtheir2000level.Thegoalistoalsoreducepedestrianfatalitiesby25percentlessfromtheir2000number.
00211 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
10.Monitoringdetailedpopulationdataandmetricsinenvironmentaljusticecommunities.
Commentnoted.ArobustenvironmentaljusticeanalysishasbeencompletedandisincludedintheRTP/SCSEnvironmentalJusticeAppendix.SCAGwillcontinuetoevaluateandmonitorenvironmentaljusticeimpactsataregionalscale.
00212 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
Thelackofactivetransportaitonfundingdisproportionallyaffectsimmigrant,lowerincome,andminoritypopulationsbecausetheseneighborhoodshavegreaterbarrierstophysicalactivityandtransitaccess,highernumbersofbusyregionalarterial,poorpedestrianandbicycleinfrastructure,unsafeneighborhoods,andlackofsafestorageforbicyclesandsafecrossings.thus,theseneighborhoodswouldbenefitfromanincreaseinfundingallocations(inorderforSCAGtomeetitsTitleVIobligations)andfromadetailedstrategicplan.
Commentnoted.The20122035RTP/SCSallocatesapproximately$6.7billiontowardsActiveTransportationinvestments.Inresponsetotheoverallfeedbackwehavereceivedandbasedonfinalreconciliationofourfinanceplan,staffispleasedtonotethatthefundingforActiveTransportationhasactuallybeenincreasedby$700millionovertheDraftRTP/SCSthatwasreleasedforpublicreviewandcomment.Thisrepresentsanincreaseofmorethan270%overthecommitmentsmadeinthe2008RTP.Furthermore,thisdoesnotaccountfortheestimated$4.1billion,webelievethelocaljurisdictionswillbespendingonActivetransportationovertheplanperiodbasedontheircurrentexpenditurepattern.StaffwillcontinuetoevaluatingfundingforActiveTransportationandpursuenewfundingsourcesinfutureRTPupdates.
00213 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty
CompliancewiththeSCSrequirementofSB375andthewellbeing,safety,andhealthofcitizenswithintheSCAGregionwilldependonthefuturedevelopmentofourmultimodaltransportationnetwork,jobs,housing,educationandhealthyenvironmentsforfamiliestolivein.
Commentnoted.
00301 JennyBaird AmericanLungAssociation
Increaseactivetransportationinvestmentstomorethan$12billionayear.WhileweappreciatetheincreaseinactivetransportationfundingincludedinthedraftSCS,webelievemorefundingisneeded.ArecentstudybytheLosAngelesCountyofPublicHealthestimatedthatupto$40billioncouldbeneededtobuildoutallofthecurrentbicycleandpedestrianprojectsinLosAngelesCountyalone.SCAG,incoordinationwithhealthdepartmentsandorganizations,shouldconductacomprehensiveneedsassessmentfortheSouthernCalifornia
Commentnoted.The20122035RTP/SCSallocatesapproximately$6.7billiontowardsActiveTransportationinvestments.Inresponsetotheoverallfeedbackwehavereceivedandbasedonfinalreconciliationofourfinanceplan,staffispleasedtonotethatthefundingforActiveTransportationhasactuallybeenincreasedby$700millionovertheDraftRTP/SCSthatwasreleasedforpublicreviewandcomment.Thisrepresentsanincreaseofmorethan270%overthecommitmentsmadeinthe2008RTP.Furthermore,thisdoes
11
ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
regiontodeterminetheinfrastructureneedstodevelopanetworkofbicycleandpedestrianpathwaysandtransitconnections.AnalysisisalsoneededofhowSCAGsbicycleandpedestrianpercapitainvestmentcompareswithotherregions.
not accountfortheestimated$4.1billion,webelievethelocaljurisdictionswillbespendingonActivetransportationovertheplanperiodbasedontheircurrentexpenditurepattern.StaffwillcontinuetoevaluatingfundingforActiveTransportationandpursuenewfundingsourcesinfutureRTPupdates.
00302 JennyBaird AmericanLungAssociation
ImproveAssessmentofhealthbenefitsthroughnewmodelingapproaches.UtilizethenewCaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealthITHIMscreeningtooltoanalyzethepotentialchronicdiseasereductionsthatcanbeachievedintheSCAGregionbasedonincreasedtransportationrelatedphysicalactivitysuchaswalkingandbiking.ThismodelwasusedintheSanFranciscoBayArearegiontodeterminereductionsinheartandrespiratorydisease,breastcancerandotherhealtheffectslinkedtoactivetransportationscenarios.WeurgeSCAGtoincorporatethistoolinregionalplanninganddecisionmakingfortransportationinvestments.
Comment noted.AsascenarioplanningtooltheRapidFiremodelwasusedtocalculatethepublichealthimpactsofautomobiletransportationrelatedairpollutionduringthescenarioplanningprocess.Thenumberofhealthincidences,andtheirrelatedcosts,arecalculatedonthebasisofcriteriaairpollutantemissions(measuredintons).WelookforwardtoworkingwiththeAmericanLungAssociationtounderstandtheITHIMscreeningtoolanditsapplicabilitytofutureSCAGplans.
00303 JennyBaird AmericanLungAssociation
Includetheattachedlistof13healthandequitymetricsintheSCSandmonitorovertime,includingexpandedpublichealthtargets.Inadditiontomonitoringprematuremortality,SCAGshouldalsoassessreductionsinasthmaincidenceandexacerbationsduetotrafficrelatedpollution(NOX)andothertargetsthroughcollaborationwithlocalhealthdepartments,theSouthCoastAirQualityManagementDistrict,academicresearchersandcommunitybasedorganizations.Improvementstothetargetsshouldbemonitoredandreportedtothepubliceverytwoyears.AdditionalcommentsonthetargetsalreadyincludedbySCAGintheSCSwillbesentinaseparatecommentletter.
Commentnoted.TheperformancemetricsweredevelopedwithextensiveinputfromSCAGstakeholdersandleadership.TheDraftPEIRincludesamobilesourcehealthriskassessmentinAppendixF.TheanalysisassessedatleastonefreewaycorridorineachofthesixcountiescontainedintheSCAGplanningarea.WelookforwardtoworkingwiththeAmericanLungAssociationonfutureeffortstomonitorperformance.SCAGisinterestedincontinuingtoassesshealthoutcomesbeyondtheRTP.
00304 JennyBaird AmericanLungAssociation
Focusinvestmentsoncompletingtransitsystemsandbuildingouttransitinfrastructure,ratherthanhighwayexpansion,includingthefollowing:.oDoublingMetrolinkridershipby2020anddoubleitagainby2035oExpandingBusRapidTransitandregionalbusserviceoEnhancingTODplanningand1stmilelastmileinvestmentsnearMetrolinkstationsoDoublingthebicyclenetworkto24,000milesandimprovingpedestrianenvironment
Commentnoted.The2012RTP/SCScontainsthreenewcommuterraillines,sixnewrapidbuslines,andanexpansionofpointtopointexpressbusservice.Theplanforecastsa338%riseincommuterrailboardingsbetween2001and2035.Landusepolicyaroundtransitstationsandamenitiesfallundertheauthorityofthelocalgoverningjurisdiction,whichmightbeaCityorCounty,dependingonincorporation.However,SCAGpartnerswithCitiesandotherjurisdictionstodolandusevisionexercisesthroughtheCompassBlueprintDemonstrationProgram.Thisprogramprovidesamixofconsultantservices,SCAGstafftime,financialresources,andtechnicalassistancetolocalcities,counties,SCAGsubregions,andcounty
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
transportationcommissionstohelplinklanduseandtransportationplanning.
00305 JennyBaird AmericanLungAssociation
Increasetransitandtransitorientedplanningin InlandEmpire.BecausesomuchoftheplannedgrowthintheInlandEmpireisrelativelylowdensityandremotefromtransit,SCAGshouldworkcloselywithInlandEmpiregovernmentstoaccelerateexpansionandfrequencyoftransitandrailtotheareaandfocusmoregrowtharoundtransitcorridors.ArecenthealthforumhostedbytheAmericanLungAssociationinCaliforniainRiversidehighlightedthedramaticratesofrespiratoryillness,heartdiseaseandobesityintheregionassociatedwithpoorlanduseandsprawldevelopment.
Commentnoted.Commentednoted.The2012RTP/SCScontainsthreenewcommuterraillines,sixnewrapidbuslines,andanexpansionofpointtopointexpressbusservice.Landusepolicyaroundtransitstationsandamenitiesfallundertheauthorityofthelocalgoverningjurisdiction,whichmightbeacityorCounty,dependingonincorporation.However,SCAGpartnerswithcitiestodolandusevisionexercisesthroughtheCompassBlueprintDemonstrationProgram.Thisprogramprovidesamixofconsultantservices,SCAGstafftime,financialresources,andtechnicalassistancetolocalcities,counties,SCAGSubregions,andCountyTransportationCommissionstohelplinklanduseandtransportationplanning.
00306 JennyBaird AmericanLungAssociation
Frontloadactivetransportationfunding.SCAGshouldcommittoahigheramountoftransportationfundingforbikeandpedestrianinfrastructure,especiallyintheearlyyearsofthe25yearRTPprocess.SCAGshouldworkwithlocaltransportationagenciestoprioritizebicycleandpedestrianprojectsandensurethemajorityoffundsarespentpriorto2020.
Commentnoted.ThedistributionoffundingfordifferenttransportationinvestmentsintheRTPreflectslocaloptionsalestaxmeasurecommitmentsapprovedbyvoters,countytransportationcommissionadoptedlongrangetransportationplans,limitationsassociatedwithspecificrevenuessources,andotherpreviouscommitments.
00307 JennyBaird AmericanLungAssociation
Increaseinvestmentsinzeroemissionfreighttransportationinordertoreducedieselemissionsandexposuresincommunitiesnearfreightcorridorsandrailyards.Ensurethatfundingmechanismsareinplacetoexpeditetheimplementationofthezeroandnearzeroemissionfreightandtruckstrategiesandinfrastructure.Prioritizespendingonprojectsthatdelivermaximumhealthbenefitsforresidentsoftheregion,especiallythoselivingalongfreewaysandfreightcorridors.
Commentnoted.EmissionsfromgoodsmovementactivitiesareasignificantconcernfortheSCAGregion.Theregionaltrucklanesystemidentifiedinthe2012RTPisenvisionedtobeafacilityusedbyzeroemissiontrucks.Thissystemalsoofferstheopportunitytoincentivizetheadoptionofclean,zeroemissiontechnologiesforregionalfreightmovement.SCAGalsocontinuestosupporteffortsbyregionalpartnersandstakeholderstoaddressgoodsmovementemissionsandimpactsoncommunitiessuchastheSanPedroBayPortsCleanAirActionPlan.SCAGalsosupportstheimplementationofallfreightprojectslistedinthe2012RTPandcontinuestoworkcloselywithregionalimplementationagenciestoadvancetheircompletion.Further,the2012RTPincludesanEnvironmentalActionPlanthatwillleadtothedeploymentofzeroemissiontechnologiesinthetimeframenecessarytomeetfederalrequirements.
00308 JennyBaird AmericanLungAssociation
EvaluatethenumberandtypeofnewdevelopmentsthatcouldbelocatedincloseproximitytofreewaysandhightrafficroadwaysintheSCAGregionunderthenewRTPandpotentialpollutionexposures.TheEnvironmentalJusticeAppendixtothe
Commentnoted.DataandanalysisincludedintheEnvironmentalJusticeAppendixdoesnotaccountforPlanimprovementsinvehicletechnologyparticularlyfortruckonlycorridors.ThesecorridorsinthePlanareexclusivelyforzero
13
ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
Planshowsthatapproximately25% 27%ofhouseholdslivingwithin500feetoffreewayscouldfacegreaterexposurestoCOandPMthanunderthebasecase,withhighconcentrationsofminorityandlowincomeresidentsdisproportionatelyaffected.Workwithairdistrict,healthdepartmentsanduniversitiestodevelopandimplementbestpracticepoliciesfordevelopmentslocatednearheavytrafficareastoreduceexposurestoairpollution.
and/ornearzeroemissionvehicles.Furthermore,theProgramEnvironmentalImpactReport(PEIR)accompanyingtheRTP/SCSincludesmitigationmeasuresthatwouldreduceimpactsassociatedwithhealthriskwithin500feetoffreewaysandhightrafficvolumeroadwaystolessthansignificant.AnalysisincludedintheAppendixalsodoesnotaccountforemissionsimprovementsthroughtheimplementationofthesemitigationmeasures.Assuch,emissionsandexposureanalysisshowninthisAppendixisabundantlyconservativeanddemonstratesworstcasescenariooutcomes.Iftheseemissionsimprovementshadbeenaccountedfor,webelievetheanalysiswouldshowlittleornoareaswithworsenedemissions(hotspots)associatedwiththePlan.Moreover,thecurrentlyavailabledataonemissionsandonthedistributionofhouseholdsandpopulationisimprecisesuchthattheoverlaywithemissionsandEJpopulationswilltendtooverstateanypotentialimpacts.Nevertheless,givenongoingconcernsandevolvinginformationonhealthimpacts,SCAGencouragesprojectsponsorstobecognizantofanypotentialhealthrisksinprojectdesignanddelivery.ConsistentwiththemitigationidentifiedandtobeimplementedaspartoftheproposedfinalPEIR,SCAGwillassistindisseminatinginformationandidentifyingeffectivestrategiestoreduceriskattheprojectlevel.
00401 TerryRoberts AmericanLungAssociation
TheSouthernCaliforniaAssociationofGovernments(SCAG)SustainableCommunitiesStrategyoffersatransformativeopportunitytoreduceunhealthyvehicleemissionswhilepromotinghealthier,moreactiveneighborhoodswithreducedratesofchronicdiseaseandprematuredeath.
Commentnoted.
00402 TerryRoberts AmericanLungAssociation
HealthprofessionalssupportstrengtheningtheSustainableCommunitiesStrategytoimprovehealthoutcomesfromhealthylanduseandtransportationplanningwiththefollowingrecommendations:Increaseactivetransportationinvestmentstomorethan$10billionayear.ArecentstudybytheLosAngelesCountyofPublicHealthestimatedthat$40billionwouldbeneededtobuildoutallofthecurrentbicycleandpedestrianprojectsinLosAngelesCountyalone.AnalysisneededofhowSCAGsbicycleandpedestrianpercapitainvestmentcompareswithotherregions.
Commentnoted.The20122035RTP/SCSallocatesapproximately$6.7billiontowardsActiveTransportationinvestments.Inresponsetotheoverallfeedbackwehavereceivedandbasedonfinalreconciliationofourfinanceplan,staffispleasedtonotethatthefundingforActiveTransportationhasactuallybeenincreasedby$700millionovertheDraftRTP/SCSthatwasreleasedforpublicreviewandcomment.Thisrepresentsanincreaseofmorethan270%overthecommitmentsmadeinthe2008RTP.Furthermore,thisdoesnotaccountfortheestimated$4.1billion,webelievethelocaljurisdictionswillbespendingonActivetransportationoverthe
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
planperiodbasedontheircurrentexpenditurepattern. StaffwillcontinuetoevaluatingfundingforActiveTransportationandpursuenewfundingsourcesinfutureRTPupdates.
00403 TerryRoberts AmericanLungAssociation
Assesshealthbenefitsthroughnewmodelingapproaches:UtilizethenewCaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealthscreeningtooltoanalyzethepotentialchronicdiseasereductionsintheSCAGregionfromincreasedphysicalactivitysuchaswalkingandbikingandcompletethisinformationassoonaspossible.
Commentnoted.Asascenarioplanningtool,theRapidFiremodelwasusedtocalculatethepublichealthimpactsofautomobiletransportationrelatedairpollutionduringthescenarioplanningprocess.Thenumberofhealthincidences,andtheirrelatedcosts,arecalculatedonthebasisofcriteriaairpollutantemissions(measuredintons).WelookforwardtoworkingwiththeAmericanLungAssociationtounderstandtheITHIMscreeningtoolanditsapplicabilitytofutureSCAGplans.
00404 TerryRoberts AmericanLungAssociation
BroadenthelistofpublichealthtargetsfortheSCStoincludereductionsinairpollutionrelatedhealthimpacts,includingprematuremortalityandasthmaexacerbations.Workwithpublichealthagenciestodevelopotherpublichealthtargets.
Commentnoted.TheperformancemetricsweredevelopedwithextensiveinputfromSCAGstakeholdersandleadership.WelookforwardtoworkingwiththeAmericanLungAssociationonfutureeffortstomonitorperformance.
00405 TerryRoberts AmericanLungAssociation
Focusinvestmentsoncompletingtransitsystemsandbuildingouttransitinfrastructure,ratherthanhighwayexpansion.oDoublingMetrolinkridershipby2020anddoubleitagainby2035oExpandingBusRapidTransitandregionalbusserviceoEnhancingTODplanningand1stmilelastmileinvestmentsnearMetrolinkstationsoDoublingthebicyclenetworkto24,000milesandimprovingpedestrianenvironment
Commentnoted.TheRTPincludesasignificantexpansionofrailserviceincludingMetrolinkandCaliforniaHighSpeedRail.ItalsoincludesanexpansionofBRTandexpressbusservices,increasedfrequenciesoflocalfixedroutebus,andasignificantincreaseinfundingforbicycleandpedestrianfacilities.
00406 TerryRoberts AmericanLungAssociation
Frontloadactivetransportationfunding,includingtransit,sothatprojectsarecompletedearlyinthe25yearRTPprocess.
Commentnoted.SCAGcannotunilaterallychangetheneartermcommitmentsthatarealreadyinplace.Significantincreaseinfundingforactivetransportationproposedinthe2012RTP/SCSislargelypredicatedonadditionalrevenuesfromnewsourcesthatwillrequirefutureactionsatthestateand/orfederallevels.Therefore,theplanrealisticallyassumesthatthesefundswillnotbeavailableinthenearterm.Theearliestthesefundsareexpectedtobeavailableis2026.
00407 TerryRoberts AmericanLungAssociation
Increaseinvestmentsinzeroemissionfreighttransportationinordertoreducedieselemissionsandexposuresincommunitiesnearfreightcorridorsandrailyards.
Commentnoted.EmissionsfromgoodsmovementactivitiesareasignificantconcernfortheSCAGregion.Theregionaltrucklanesystemidentifiedinthe2012RTPisenvisionedtobeafacilityusedbyzeroemissiontrucks.Thissystemalsoofferstheopportunitytoincentivizetheadoptionofclean,zeroemissiontechnologiesforregionalfreightmovement.SCAGalsocontinuestosupporteffortsbyregionalpartnersandstakeholderstoaddressgoodsmovementemissionsandimpactsoncommunitiessuchastheSanPedroBayPortsCleanAirActionPlan.SCAGalsosupportstheimplementationofall
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
freightprojectslistedinthe2012RTPandcontinuestoworkcloselywithregionalimplementationagenciestoadvancetheircompletion.Further,the2012RTPincludesanEnvironmentalActionPlanthatwillleadtothedeploymentofzeroemissiontechnologiesinthetimeframenecessarytomeetfederalrequirements.
00408 TerryRoberts AmericanLungAssociation
EvaluatethenumberandtypeofnewdevelopmentsthatcouldbelocatedincloseproximitytofreewaysandhightrafficroadwaysintheSCAGregionunderthenewRTP.Workwithairdistrict,healthdepartmentsanduniversitiestodevelopbestpracticepoliciesfordevelopmentslocatednearheavytrafficareastoreduceexposurestoairpollution.
Commentnoted.PleaseseeTable43onPage121intheDraftEnvironmentalJusticeAppendixforhouseholdandjobgrowthintheHighQualityTransitAreas(HQTA)thatarealsoincloseproximitytofreewaysandhightrafficroadwaysunderRTP.
00501 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers
TheSouthernCaliforniaAssociationofGovernments(SCAG)2012RegionalTransportationPlan(Plan)isanexcellentplanningdocumentbasedon2005technology.Itlacksonlyanupdateforthedigitaltechnologyof2010andaninfusionofhopeamidthemanychallenges.YoucanaccomplishthatupdatebyinsertingtheArialfonttextattheappropriatelocationsinthePlan.AnytextnotinArialfontissupportinglogicanddocumentation.SCAGmaychoosetoinsertthenonArialfontoruseittoprepareanalternaterevenueexpensemodel.
Commentnoted.
00502 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers
SCAGisasufficientlylargeeconomytodrivemoreapplicationsofdigitaltechnologyfortransportationsafetyandconvenience.IfSCAGdoesnotdrivedigitalapplications,thedigitalapplicationswilldriveSCAG.Forexample:Inresponsetoyouthsurveys,GeneralMotorsisapplyingdigitaltechnology.Forexample;smallselfdrivingtaxisandcarswhichwillparkthemselvesamileormorefromtheirpassengerdropofforpickuplocations.Todaystechsavvy015yearoldswillbethetransportationconsumersresponding(ornot)toSCAGsTransportationDemandManagement(TDM)asthe1838yearoldsof2030.Driversareevermoredistractedbytheirdigitaldevices,somuchsotheNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationrecommendsbanningalluseofdigitaldevices,evenhandsfreephones.Increasinglydistracteddriversaremorelikelytokillpedestriansandbicyclists,withmoreadverseimpactsonTDMandsafety.Pedestriansandbicyclistsaredistractedreadingtheirdigitaldeviceandoblivioustooutsidesoundswearingearphones.Asof2009,anyonewithasmart
Commentnoted.
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
phonehadaccesstorealtime(andverydistracting)visualindicationsoftrafficconditionsontheiralternateroutes.TheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers,LosAngelesSection,SustainabilityCommitteeencouragesSCAGtodrivedigitalapplicationsfortransportationbecausedigitalapplicationsallowtremendousimprovementsinmobility,safety,andairqualitywithrelativelylittleuseoftheEarthsnaturalresources.Further,motorvehiclesmanufacturersareimplementingdigitalapplicationsinanuncoordinatedfashionmotivatedtosellmorevehicles:adaptivecruisecontrol,stabilitycontrol,selfparking,voicerecognition,collisionwarning,GeneralMotorsOnStar,etc.Whilethesesystemshelpprotectthevehicleoccupants,theyarelikelytoincreasetherateofbicyclistandpedestriandeathsabove21%.Ourcommitteeincludesregularbicyclecommuterswhooftengetunsolicitedcommentsaboutthedangersinvolved.Itwouldseemtheperceptionofdangerisdiscouragingbicycleandpedestriantransportation.Itfollowsthatanincreaseinperceivedsafetyisessentialforincreasingactivetransportation.
00503 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers
AftertheMobility,Safety,AirQuality,andFinancialChallengesofExecutiveSummarypages2and3,add:DIGITALOPPORTUNITIESOurelectronicsystemscontinuetoimproveinreliability,performance,andcost.2035isasfarinthefutureas1986isinthepast.In1986,mobilephoneswerethesizeofsmallvacuumcleanersandantilockbrakeswerestandardonafewluxurycars.Personalcomputerswerethesizeofadeskdrawerwiththepowertohandlewordprocessingandsimplespreadsheets.In2010,smartphonesaresmallerthanadeckofcards,areatenththecostofa1986personalcomputer,andpossessthepowerofa1986supercomputer.Fulldrivebywirestabilitycontrolsystemsarestandardonmostcars.Theglobalpositioningsystem(GPS)wasnotfullyoperationalwithcivilianaccuracyofabout30feetuntil1994.In2010,smartphoneshaveGPSwhichcanbeintegratedwiththesmartphonesaccelerometersforprecisionofafewinchesathighwayspeeds.Ourvisionincludespushingtheconnectivityandcomputingpowerof2010toaddressthetransportationchallengesof2020,2030,andbeyond.
Commentnoted.Thedevelopmentofautomatedvehiclesisproceedingrapidly,butisstillinapreliminaryphase,andwillbeexaminedinfutureplans.
00504 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivil
AttheendoftheFinancialPlanExecutiveSummarypages7and8,add:REDUCEDINSURANCECOSTSDriversandbusinessesin
Commentnoted.
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
Engineers theSCAGregionpaidabout$25billionin2010forvehicleinsurance.Bypushingdigitalsystemstoaddresstransportationsafetychallenges,SCAGcandecreasecollisionsfromabout83,000peryearin2010tolessthan500peryearin2035.Digitalsystemswouldsavedriversandbusinessesabout$240billiononinsurancepremiumsoverthetwentyyearsbetween2015and2035.Also,bypushingdigitalsystemstoaddresstransportationmobilitychallenges,SCAGcanreducetheregionalpersonhoursoftrafficdelaybelow1millionhoursperyear.TheinsuranceandtimesavingsmorethanjustifytheincreasedgastaxandmileagebaseduserfeesuggestedinTable2withdirectlyoffsettingsavingsfordriversandbusiness.
00505 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers
Changethetitleandaddthefollowingtopages27and28:INTEGRATEDLANDUSEANDDIGITALLYENHANCEDTRANSPORTATIONDigitallyenhancedtransportationistheapplicationoftechnologyallowing:Transituserstokeepshopping,working,orplayinguntiltheyreceiveanalarmthattheyhavejustenoughtimetogettothebusstop.Busdriverstovarytheirroutesandstopsinrealtimetooptimizeservice,revenue,andexpense.Citiestoorganizeallthepossibleparkingspots(street,schools,churches,business,andindividualresidences)forpublicprivatecoordinatedtimeofuseandmembershipbasedtollsandspacesharing.Privatedriversandpassengerstoshareridesontheflyasadecentralizedneighborhelpingneighborformoftransit.Pedestriansandbicycliststobeprotectedfrommotorvehiclesbyavirtualforcefieldusinga$50devicewhichinformsmotorvehiclesoftheirlocation,velocity,andaccelerations.Thesamedevicecanoffertipsonsafebicyclingandsafewalking.Motorvehiclestobeprotectedbythesamevirtualforcefield.Thevirtualforcefieldnotonlypreventsaccidents,itnegatestheperceivedsafetyoflargervehicles.Moregamificationintrafficmanagement,suchasspeedcameralottery.Safelydoublingroadcapacitywhilemaintainingthespeedlimit(nocongestiondelays)byapplyingthesamevirtualforcefieldtomakevehiclessuperpolite.Rentalofbicycles,traditionalcars,orselfdrivingvehiclesbytheminute.Cargopoolingformail,hardcopymessages,tools,equipment,food,etc.
Commentnoted.
00506 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivil
MotivationTheauthorsresearchfortheSantaBarbaraCommunity
Commentnoted.
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
Engineers EnvironmentalCouncilsFossilFreeby2033TransportationPlan(Freeby2033Plan)confirmedastrongpreferenceforconveniencewhenselectingtransportation.TheFreeby2033Plan22concludesincreasedridesharingcanreducevehiclemilesby20%muchquickerandlessexpensivelythancanincreaseduseoftraditionalpublictransit.Convenienceandcostfactorsstronglyfavorridesharing.ThesegeneralfactsfromtheLegislativeAnalystsOffice23concerningcarpoollanesconfirmaneedtoincreasetimesavingandconvenienceaspectsofpublictransportation:HighOccupancyVehicle(HOV)lanesareunderusedintheoffpeakdirectionorduringoffpeakhours,becausethereislittletimesavingsincentivetocarpoolwhentrafficisflowing.HOVlanesaremosteffectivewhentheyprovidetimesaving.HOVlanesdonotincreasecarpooling,unlessthereistrafficslowingcongestion.Thesummer2008highfuelcostsfollowedbythefall2008lowfuelcostsprovideapricebasedexample.Highfuelcostsincreasedbusandtrainridershipandpromptedcallsformoreconvenientbusesandtrains.AtleastinLosAngeles,newsummer2008ridersgenerallyabandonedbusesandtrainswhenfuelpricesdropped.Further,considerhowrapidlypeopleabandonbicycles,buses,andtrainswhentheycanbarelyaffordaprivatemotorvehicleindevelopingcountries.WitnesstheswitchawayfrombicyclesinChinaandIndia.
00507 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers
Allthisimpliesthattransitridingmustbecomeasconvenientassingleoccupancyvehiclesiftransitridingistoincreasesignificantly.Ratherthanallowingtrafficcongestiontodragontheeconomy,maketransitmoreconvenient.Thebesttransitridingincreasingstrategywillbesuperconvenient.Theinexpensivesuperconvenienceofdigitalapplicationsextendstolowincomepeopleunliketraditionalpublictransit(whichisnotconvenient)orsingleoccupancyvehicletolls(whichareexpensive).SCAGsimplementationofsmartphonetransitwouldmakeSCAGstransitsystemmoresophisticatedand21stCenturythanNewYork,SanFrancisco,LondonorParis.
Commentnoted.
00508 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivil
SCAGmightpaythesmartphonetransitserviceafeetoobtainridershipdataforadjustingroutesandfarestominimizeboth
Commentnoted.
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
Engineers vehiclemilesandpassengermilesper gallon.00509 MarkCapron American
SocietyofCivilEngineers
SCAGcantriggerthesmartphonemarketsharerace,advertisetheprogram,andcontributetoeconomicopportunitywithcontestsandpromotions.$1millionwouldbuyabout5,000smartphoneswholesale.Thesmartphonescanberewardsforideacontests,studentessaycontests,orarecruitingcontest.Inarecruitingcontest,contestantssignupregularcustomersatregularcustomerrates.Thenewcustomerstransituseissummed(aggregatemannertoavoidprivacyissues)forthecontestperiod.Thecontestantswhosecustomersaccumulatedthemosttransitmileswinthesmartphonesandyearofservice.Thesummedmilescanbedisplayedonawebsitewithhourlyupdatestocreateexcitement.Notethatabusortaxidriverwithasmartphoneandtheservicecreatesaparticipatingbusortaxiwithautomaticpaymentoptionanddatatransfertotheagency.
Commentnoted.
00510 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers
Consideraddingtheparkingmetersasasmartphonefeaturegraduallystartingin2013.ThephoneswillneedmoreaccurateGPS,whichcanbeprovidedusinginertialnavigationtoimprovesatellitefixes,orbyprovidingmoreGPSchannelswithinthephone,orbyprovidingmoresatelliterepeaters.TheaccuratewithinayardphonewouldlinktothecitysGIS(geographicinformationsystem)wheneverthecarstopsinanymappedparkingspot.Ergo,thesmartphonebecomestheparkingmeter.
Commentnoted.
00511 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers
Backgroundinformationonzerocongestion,zerocollisionvehiclesMotorvehiclescanusedigitaltechnologytoavoidcrashingintoeachother.Commercialaircraftalreadyusethiselectronicstosafelyincreaselandingsandtakeoffsinlesstime.ItscalledtheAutomaticDependentSurveillanceBroadcastSystemandstartedcoordinating9,000helicopterflightsadayovertheGulfofMexicoinJanuary2010.Theelectronicsisrobustandkeepsgettingbetter.Forexample,theU.S.AirForceisdevelopingtinyquantummechanicaldevicesthatimproveyourcarkeepingtrackofitselfevenifitlosesitsGlobalPositioningSystemsignals.Electronicsiswaycheaperthancarinsurance.In2005,GeneralMotorsengineersestimated$200percartoupgradeOnStartozerocrash,zerocongestion.Ofcourse,mostothercarswouldhavetobesimilarlyoutfittedforthislowcostapproach.ExampleactionsAllow,beginning
Commentnoted.
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
January1,2013,singledrivercarswithzerocrashandzerocongestiontechnologytousecarpoollanes.Announcesuchtechnologywillberequiredforthefastlaneof3+lanefreewaysstartingJanuary1,2016.AnnouncesuchtechnologywillberequiredforallbuttheslowlaneofeveryfreewayinSCAGmemberjurisdictionsstartingJanuary1,2020.Announcealotterywhichbicyclistsandpedestriansenterbyloggingmileswiththeirzerocrashtechnologyequippedsmartphone,bicyclecomputer,orpedometer.
00601 RichardMueller
AmeronInternationalCorporationWaterTransmissionGroup
LadiesandGentlemen:ForthepasttwoyearsIhavebeeninvolvedwiththerefinementandpromotionofafreighttransportationconceptwecallGreenRailIntelligentDevelopment,orGRID.GRIDiscomposedofthreemajorcomponents,asfollows.1)ASuperDocktoprovidehighlyautomatedtransferofcontainerfreightdirectlybetweenshipsandtrains.TwotypesoftrainswouldbeservedbytheSuperDock,Class1trainsforBNSFandUnionPacifictotravelthroughtheAlamedaCorridor,anddronecontainertrainstoandfrompointsinsouthernCalifornia.2)Afreightpipeline,essentiallyatunnelforthedronetrainstotravelbetweenwarehousedistrictsintheLosAngelesregionandthePorts.3)Loading/unloadingterminalstofeedandreceivedronetrainsintoandfromthefreightpipeline/tunnel.TheseterminalswouldbestrategicallylocatednearconcentrationsofwarehousesindowntownLosAngeles,theCityofCommerce,RowlandHeights,andFontana.Thefreightpipelinewouldessentiallyprovideanunobtrusive,nearlynoisefree,electricallypoweredalternativetotheEastWestCorridorproposedintheRTP.InitialindicationsarethattheefficiencyoftheSuperDockandfreightpipelinesystemcouldgenerateasufficientcashflowforthesystemtopayforitselfusingcurrentfreightcostsandwithoutanytaxincreases.ThissystemhasreceivedaspecificendorsementfromtheAngelesChapteroftheSierraClub.IrecognizethereisinsufficienttimeforthestudyofGRIDthatwouldberequiredforGRIDtobeincludedasanalternativeinthecurrentRTP.However,assoonasthedraftRTPisfinalized,IencourageSCAGtoparticipateinaninvestigationofGRIDtodetermineitsviability.GRIDprovidesanopportunityforatrueparadigmshiftinfreighttransportationwithinsouthernCaliforniathatcouldsignificantlyreducehighwaycongestion
Commentnoted.Local,regional,andstatepartners,includingexpertsandstakeholdersfromboththepublicandprivatesectors,haveworkedcloselytogetherovermanyyearstoidentifyandimplementpotentialsolutionstothechallengesresultingfromfreightmovementinSouthernCalifornia.Theseeffortshaveincludedtheconsiderationofnumerousconcepts.Researchandanalysistodatehaveindicatedthataregionaltrucklanesystemusedbycleantrucks(i.e.,nearzeroandzeroemission)offersapromisingsolutiontoregionalfreightconcerns.Nevertheless,SCAGanticipatesfurtheranalysisofalignmentconceptsincludingevaluationofawiderangeoftechnologyoptionsforapplicationtosuchasystem.Alongwithtechnologyoptions,evaluationwouldbemadeaboutadequatelyaddressingmarketsegmentation,firstmile/lastmileissues,operationalfeasibility,collaborationwithregionalstakeholders(suchastheSanPedroBayPorts),andcostsamongothers.SCAGwillcontinueongoingcollaborationwithstakeholdersandtransportationintereststoidentifypotentialsolutionstoregionalfreightchallenges.
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
andmakefreighttransportationtoandthroughsouthernCaliforniacompetitivewiththatanywhereintheworld.Sincerely,AmeronInternationalCorporationWaterTransmissionGroup
00701 AnnWilson ArroyoVerdugoSubregion
Pursuanttofederalregulations,projectsshouldnotbeincludedintheRTP/SCSconstrainedplan,whichhaveonlysecuredasmallportionoftherequiredfundingneededtocompletetheproject:TheRTP/SCS,accordingtofederalregulations,in"nonattainmentandmaintenanceareas,"must"addressthespecificfinancialstrategiesrequiredtoensuretheimplementationofprojectsandprogramstoreachairqualitycompliance".Projectswhichonlyhavesecuredasmallportionoftheneededfunding,andwhichrelyonspeculativefunding,suchaspotentialand/orpossibletollingauthority,shouldnotbeincludedintheRTP/SCS,sincethisinclusiondoesnotmeetthefederalrequirementsforafiscallyconstrainedplan.
Commentnoted.However,SCAGsanalysisanddocumentationofreasonablyavailablesourcesdemonstratesconsistencywithfederalrequirements.Thefulltextofthefederalrequirementscanbefoundin23CFR450.322.TheapplicablefederalregulationsclearlyindicateanRTPmeetsthefinancialconstraintrequirementbyincludingsufficientfinancialinformationfordemonstratingthatprojectsintheplancanbeimplementedusingcommitted,available,orreasonablyavailablerevenuesources,withreasonableassurancethatthefederallysupportedtransportationsystemisbeingadequatelyoperatedandmaintained.
00702 AnnWilson ArroyoVerdugoSubregion
LanguageshouldbeincludedintheRTP/SCSrequiringafullcost/benefitanalysisforallprojectsintheconstrainedplan:LanguageshouldbeincludedintheRTP/SCSthatclearlystatesthatafullcost/benefitanalysisshallbecompletedforeachprojectcontainedintheRTP/SCSconstrainedplan:
Commentnoted.SCAGwillcontinuetoworkwiththecountytransportationcommissionsandstakeholderstodevelopandrefineperformancemeasuresand,totheextentpracticable,conductprojectlevelperformanceassessmentsasappropriateandnecessary.
00703 AnnWilson ArroyoVerdugoSubregion
MajorhighwayexpansionprojectsshouldnotbefrontloadedintheRTP/SCS:TheRTP/SCSfrontloadshighwaymodalitiesbydisproportionatelyallocatingfundingandanticipatedcompletiondates.ThisisevidencedbycomparingTable2.2MajorHighwayCompletionProjectagainstTable2.5,MajorTransitProjects,inchapter2oftheRTP/SCS.Transitprojectsarebuiltinsegmentswiththefinalprojectnotbeingcompleteduntil20302035.ExpandinghighwaysinducesVMTandthereforefrontloadingmajorhighwaycompletionbeforetransitprojectsdoesnotcomplywiththetenetsofSB375andAB32toreducegreenhousegasemissionsbyreducingVMT.Additionallyitiswelldocumentedthatlandusesadjacenttofreewaysarepronetoincreasedtoxinswhichcausenegativehealthimpacts.AccordingtoSCAGstaff,highwayprojectsmaybemoreeasilyfinancedthantransitprojectsbyborrowingagainstfuturetollrevenues.Theystatethatthisisthereasonthehighwayprojectsarefrontloaded.Thisfinancialreasoningdoesnotjustifysacrificingenvironmentalconcernsbybuildingthehighwayprojectspriortotransitprojects.
Commentnoted.ThedistributionoffundingfordifferenttransportationinvestmentsintheRTPisaresultoflocaloptionsalestaxmeasurecommitmentsapprovedbyvoters,countytransportationcommissionadoptedlongrangetransportationplans,limitationsassociatedwithspecificrevenuessources,andotherpreviouscommitments.
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
00704 AnnWilson ArroyoVerdugoSubregion
Theterm"SR710GapClosure"usedintheplanshouldbesubstitutedwith"710NorthExtension":The"SR710GapClosure"language,alreadyusedinthe2008RTP,shouldbemodifiedtoconsistencywithMetro'sstatedintent,whichshouldservetoease,ifnoteliminatethecurrentpolarizinglanguage.Theshiftintitlefrom"710NortExtension"to"710GapClosure"isinvalid,sincethereisnogap.SR710terminatesatValleyBoulevard.Thereisnonortherlyextensiontoconnectto,sincetheportionofthe210interchangeincludingDelMarBoulevardwasbuiltconditioneduponthefactthatit"wouldhavenoeffectonthedecisionastotheultimatefreewaylocationandwillnotforeclosealternativestotheproposedultimate...Freeway."Thistitleseemstocreateasenseofinevitabilityorpriorityforthisprojectovercompetingonesandcannotbejustified.
Commentnoted.ReferencestotheSR710GapClosurehavebeenrevisedtoSR710NorthExtension(tunnel)(alignmentTBD).
00705 AnnWilson ArroyoVerdugoSubregion
SCAGassumptionsregardingthe"SR710GapClosure"projectproducingcongestionreliefandlowergreenhousegasemissionsareflawed,baseduponempiricalresearchonotherhighwayprojectsthathavebeenbuilt:ThePEIRstatesthat"ThePlanwouldincreaseVMTwhencomparedtoexistingconditions."(SCAGRTP/SCSPEIRp.3.225).Specifically,decreasingVMTisthegoalofSB375andshouldalsobethegoaloftheRTP/SCS.TheincreaseinVMTisthePlan'srelianceonfreewayexpansiontomeettheregion'smobilityneeds.Notably,theRTP/SCSdescribestheSR710tunnelasatunnelwith4lanesineachdirection.Thisisamajorhighwayexpansionbeingintroducedintotheregion.Totheextentthatthiscausesthewideningofotherfreeways(suchastheI210),itwillfurtherexpandthefreewaysystem.TheregionwouldbebetterservedwithanalternateprojectwhichisnothighwayorientedandwhichwouldpotentiallydecreaseVMT,ratherthanincreasingit.SCAGassumesthattheSR710extensionwillproducecongestionreliefandlowergreenhousegasemissions.Theseassumptionsarenotborneoutofrecentresearch,andthereareahostofotherpreviousstudiesshowingthatanincreaseinhighwaycapacityincreasesVMTandthatoncetheprojectisbuilt,congestion,withinafewyears,returns.TheseSCAGassumptionsareflawed.
Commentnoted.IncreaseintotalVMTin2035overthecurrentconditionisprimarilyduetoestimatedincreaseof4millionpeopleovertheplanperiod.However,VMTonapercapitabasiswilldecreaseoverthisperiodoncetheplanisfullyimplemented.WhilethePlandoesincludesomeneededhighwayimprovements,includingtheSR710NorthExtensionproject,thereisnoevidencethattheseimprovementswouldcontributetothetotalVMTincreaseinanydiscernibleway.The2012RTPidentifiesamultimodalstrategythatincorporatestransit,highway,andactivetransportationstrategiesaswellasdemandmanagementandcongestionpricingstrategiestoachieveoverallimprovedsystemperformanceandreductioninGHGtargetsrequiredunderSB375.
00706 AnnWilson ArroyoVerdugo
ThedefinitionoftheSR710gapclosureprojectfromoneprecisepointtoanotherthreatensprogramlevelconformityin
Commentnoted.SCAGrecognizesthataprojectspecificenvironmentalanalysisisunderway.Uponthecompletionof
23
ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
Subregion theplanandprejudicesfutureenvironmentalanalyses:ThePlanhasmodeledtheSR710extensionfromoneprecisepointnorthtoanother.Unfortunately,thisassumptionremovesthelowbuildormultimodalsolutiontothecongestionproblem.Underfederalregulations,becauseofthisspecificity,thePlanandthePEIRthreatenprogramlevelconformityandprejudicefutureprojectlevelenvironmentalanalyses.
thateffortandselectionofapreferredalternativebyMetro,SCAGwillworkwithMetrotoamendtheRTPasnecessarytoupdatetheprojectdescriptionandassociatedmodelinganalysis.
00707 AnnWilson ArroyoVerdugoSubregion
[PEIRcomment(s)] SeetheFinalPEIRAddendumSection4.0,ResponsestoCommentsontheDraftRTPPEIR,LetterNumber1.
00801 LacyKelly AssociationofCaliforniaCitiesOrangeCounty
Ingeneral,theRTPinfringesuponlocalcontrol.The2012RTPassumesaninabilityoflocalagenciestobalancethesocietalandculturalcostsassociatedwithplanobjectivesandinsteadrequiresthattheyassumetheobjectivesstatedintheplan,whichmayormaynotbesharedlocalobjectives.Matterssuchasreducingvehiclemilestraveled,eliminatingtheconsumptionoffossilfuelsinfavorofzeroornearzeroemissionvehicles,installinginfrastructurenecessarytosupportzeroemissionvehicles(suchaschargingstations),reducingobesity,environmentaljusticeimpacts,anticipatingextremeweatherandrelatedevents,increasingdevelopmentdensities,andthelikelihoodoftheadoptionofactivetransportationmethodsorthepracticalityofnecessaryinfrastructureimprovementsaremattersofintenselocaldebateandarenotappropriatesubjectsforregionaldetermination.TheRTPshouldbebasedlessuponbehaviormanagementofboththepublicandpublicagenciesandmoreuponaccuratepredictionsofpopulationpatternsandfuturetransportationrequirements.
Commentnoted.SCAG'sSCSisbaseduponlocalinputfromlocaljurisdictionsandSB375legislationdoesnotrequirethatajurisdiction'slandusepoliciesandregulationsbeconsistentwiththeSCS.WhiletheSCSisintendedtoprovidearegionalstrategythatlocalgovernmentsmayconsideriftheysochoose,andgenerallyincludesthequantitativegrowthprojectionsfromeachcityandcountyintheregiongoingforward,localjurisdictionsmaintainlocallanduseauthority.
00802 LacyKelly AssociationofCaliforniaCitiesOrangeCounty
FundingmechanismsfortheRTPneedmuchmoreeconomicanalysis.Specifically,theidentificationofmorethan$110billionthroughtheimplementationofa"mileagebased"feeisconceptualatbest;evenan"adjustedgastaxalternative"isnotguaranteed.Developinga$500billiontransportationplanwithapproximately20percentofthebudgetattachedtoaconceptrequiresasignificantlocal,regional,stateandfederalvettingprocess.WeencourageSCAGtoincludealternativemethodsoffundingshouldsuchamileagebasedfeebedeemedinfeasible.
Commentnoted.Weagreethatadditionalworkisneededbeforethemileagebaseduserfeewouldbecomeeffective,whichisbasisforassumptionthatimplementationbeginsafter2025.Theprojectedrevenuefromthemileagebaseduserfeeandadjustmentstostateandfederalgasexcisestaxeswhencombinedwiththecorerevenueforecastforstateandfederalsourcesgeneratelessrevenuethanthehistoricalaverageincreaseinstateandfederaltransportationrevenuessourcesoffivepercentannually.Ratherthansimplyassumeacontinuationofthehistoricalgrowthrate,whichisconsistentwithfederalrequirements,wedetailedspecificstepsnecessarytostabilizestateandfederaltransportationrevenuesourcesconsistent
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
withrecommendationsfromtwonationalcommissionsestablishedbyCongressthroughSAFETEALU.Aswegainmoreinsightintofuturefundingoptions,wewillupdatethefinancialplanaccordinglythroughamendmentsand/orsubsequentPlanupdatesasappropriate.Ataminimum,anRTPispreparedandadoptedeveryfouryears.
00803 LacyKelly AssociationofCaliforniaCitiesOrangeCounty
[PEIRcomment(s)] SeetheFinalPEIRAddendumSection4.0,ResponsestoCommentsontheDraftRTPPEIR,LetterNumber3.
00901 MarianneKim AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia
Government,business,anduserstakeholdersneedtoworktogethertoimplementrealisticandappropriatenewrevenues.TheRTPassumes$220billioninnewtaxesandfees(mostlyleviedonmotorists)andfinancingoverthenext20+years.Someoftheseassumptionsarenotrealisticandwillnotlikelyhappen.Andotherfundingoptions,notnowintheplan,mightbeimplemented.Theregionneedstoworktogethertoidentifyandadvancethebest,mostappropriatefundingoptionstoprovideneededfinancingforRTPpriorities.
Commentnoted.TheRTPsfinancialplanreflectsreasonableassumptions,whichwerevettedthroughSCAGsTechnicalAdvisoryCommitteeandPolicyCommittees,discussedwithstakeholdersanddocumentedintheDraftRTPtoensuretransparency.Aswegainmoreinsightintofuturefundingoptions,wewillupdatethefinancialplanaccordinglythroughamendmentsand/orsubsequentPlanupdatesasappropriate.Ataminimum,anRTPispreparedandadoptedeveryfouryears.
00902 MarianneKim AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia
TheRTPmustprotectandupholdthetransportationprioritiesapprovedbyvotersthroughvariouslocaltransportationsalestaxmeasures.Votersinfivecountiesapprovedsalestaxmeasurestofundspecifichighwayandtransitprojects.TheRTPmustincludeandsupportalloftheseprioritiesandhelpdeliverwhatvoterswerepromisedandwhatvotersapproved.Failuretodosowillmakeapprovaloffuturefundingmeasuresnearlyimpossible.
Commentnoted.TheRTPincludesthelocaloptionsalestaxmeasuresandtheirassociatedprojectsassubmittedbythecountytransportationcommissions.
00903 MarianneKim AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia
The15gastaxincreaseassumedthrough2024isreasonableifitispairedwithstateandnationalreformstoensurefundswillbespentefficientlyoneffectiveprojects.Gastaxrateshavenotchangedinalmost20years.Thisusertaxhasbeenthebackboneoftransportationfundingfordecadesanditwillcontinuetobeanimportantresourceforyearstocome.
Commentnoted.WeagreebutwouldliketoreferenceaminorclarificationwithrespecttothegastaxratesthatisdetailedintheTransportationFinanceAppendix.Thestategastaxratesareupdatedannuallyasdescribedinthetext(seestategastaxswap)butremainrevenueneutral.
00904 MarianneKim AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia
ThefinaldraftRTPclearlyrulesoutapreviouslyconsideredregionalgastaxorgasfee.Thisisanimportantimprovementthatshouldbemaintainedinthefinalplan.Gastaxeshavebeenimplementedatthestateandnationallevelfordecades.Attemptingtoextendsuchauthoritytolocalorregionalgovernmentisnotrealisticandwillhamperothereffortstofundtransportation.Relabelingthegastaxasafeedoesnot
Commentnoted.AregionalgastaxhasnotbeenconsideredforinclusionintheRTP.
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changethefactthatitisataxprotectedbytheStateConstitutionandnumerousvoterapprovedmeasures.ForthesereasonstheAutoClubstronglyopposesanyattempttoimposelocalgastaxesoranyformofafeeongasoline.
00905 MarianneKim AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia
TheVehicleMilesTraveled(VMT)chargeincludedintheRTPshouldbestudiedfurtherasalongtermreplacementforthegastax.However,theamountoftheproposedVMTchargeissignificant,itwillnotbeacceptedbymanypeople,anditneedstoincludeassurancesregardinghowthefundswillbespent.TheproposedVMTfeeisprojectedtogenerate$110billion(halfoftheRTPsfundingshortfall).Togeneratethisamount,theproposedVMTchargeisequivalenttoatriplingofthegastaxinadditiontonewtollsandotheruserfees.Suchalargetaxincreaseplacesasignificantburdenonmotoristswithoutassurancesofanequivalentorproportionatebenefit.
Commentnoted.Weagreethatadditionalworkisneededbeforethemileagebaseduserfeewouldbecomeeffective,whichisbasisforassumptionthatimplementationbeginsafter2025.Theprojectedrevenuefromthemileagebaseduserfeeandadjustmentstostateandfederalgasexcisestaxeswhencombinedwiththecorerevenueforecastforstateandfederalsourcesgeneratelessrevenuethanthehistoricalaverageincreaseinstateandfederaltransportationrevenuessourcesoffivepercentannually.Ratherthansimplyassumeacontinuationofthehistoricalgrowthrate,whichisconsistentwithfederalrequirements,wedetailedspecificstepsnecessarytostabilizestateandfederaltransportationrevenuesourcesconsistentwithrecommendationsfromtwonationalcommissionsestablishedbyCongressthroughSAFETEALU.TheinvestmentsintheRTP,includingallrevenuesources,provideareturnof$2.90foreverydollarinvested.
00906 MarianneKim AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia
TollscanbeanimportantfinancingtoolfornewgeneralpurposehighwaylanesandforallowingmorevehiclestouseexistingHOVlanesbymakingthemHOTlanes.Tollsshouldnotbeimposedonexistinggeneralpurposelanes.Theuserpay,userbenefitprincipleisanimportantcornerstoneoftransportationfunding.ChargingtollsfornewlanesortoallowmorevehiclestoaccessHOTlanesprovidesbothneededfundingforthenewfacilitiesandinherentvaluetouserspayingthetoll.However,thereisnoassurancethatmotoristswilladequatelybenefitfromtollsorcongestionfeesimposedonexistingfreewaylanesorsurfacestreets.Newtaxesandfeesareonlysuccessfulwhenthepublicunderstandsandseesaclearbenefitforpayingthem.
Commentnoted.Notollsareproposedtobeimposedonexistinggeneralpurposelanes.
00907 MarianneKim AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia
TheRTPneedstorecognizethatthemostrealisticandeffectivewaytoachievedesiredemissionsreductionshasbeenandwillcontinuetobethroughtechnologyadvancementsandnotthroughsweepingattemptstofundamentallyalterlifestylesandeconomic,geographic,anddemographicpatterns.AlthoughSB375anditsSustainableCommunityStrategyarerequiredelementsoftheRTP,theyarenotlikelytosignificantlyreduce
Commentnoted.TheRTP/SCSincludesadditionalmeanstoreduceGHGincludingalternativeautomobiletechnologiesandbettersystempreservationandmanagement.TheRTP/SCSalsointendstoofferoptionsandbuildsustainablecommunitiesinourregion,whichisaboveandbeyondachievingtheSB375GHGreductiontargets.
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GHGemissions.Improvingandencouragingtransit,bicycling,andwalkingareappropriateandgoodobjectivesfortheRTP.However,emissionsreductionsfromtheseeffortswillbeverysmallcomparedtothosethatcanandwillbeachievedthroughothermeans.Theseothermeansincludeimprovingautomobiletechnologies,alternativefuelandenergysources,andbettersystempreservationandmanagementtoimprovetrafficflowandsafety.
01001 NealRichman BREATHELA BreatheLAsupportsthecommentsintheClimatePlansignonletterinresponsetotheSCAGRTP/SCSfor2012.Weseebothstrengthsandshortcomingsinthisplanningdocumentandhopethat,totheextentfeasible,issuesthatareidentifiedbytheClimatePlancoalitionwillberemediedbeforefinaladoption.Inadditiontotheserecommendations,BreatheLAseekstoexpressitsconcernthattheRTP/SCSmayunderestimatetheactualimpactofpollutioninareasadjacenttofreewaysandhighlytraveledcorridorsbecausecurrentplanningmethodsdonotfullyconsiderthehealthconsequencesofultrafinedieselparticulates.TheRTP/SCSfocusesontheimpactofPM10andPM2.5.However,thereisgrowingevidenceoftheadversehealtheffectsofultrafinedieselparticulatematterthatiscomposedofcarbon,organiccompounds,metals,andothertraceelements.Foranumberofreasonsultrafineparticles(lessthan0.1micronsinwidth)arenotyetregulated.Airqualitystandardsarebasedonmassconcentrationforparticulatematter.However,thehealtheffectofultrafineparticles(UFPs)seemstooccurthroughparticlenumberconcentration,notmassconcentration.UFPsareasmallproportionbymass,butalargeproportionbynumber.Becauseoftheirextremelysmallsize,UFPscanpenetratedeepintothelungtissue,circulatethroughoutthebody,andbecomedepositedwithincellularstructures.Themainsourcesofdieselexhaustrangefromtrucksandcarstolocomotives,ships,andindustrialequipment.InLosAngelesCounty,about70%ofairqualityriskisderivedfromdieselparticulateemissions,especiallyfrommobilesources.ConcentrationsofUFPsaregreatestaroundfreewayswithtrucktrafficandbegintodecreaseasthedistanceawayfromfreewaysincreases.TheRTP/SCSdoespointoutthepotentialimpactofroadsidepollutantsbynotingthehighconcentrationofvulnerableresidentswholiveandworkin
Commentnoted.SCAGwillprovideinformationthatdetailstheoverallresultsandconclusionsrelatedtoenvironmentaljusticeforthe2012RTP/SCS.Anticipateditemsofnote:1)Regionwideenvironmentalperformancerelatedtoemissionsismostlyimprovedfromthebaseyear,andalsoshowsimprovementwhencomparingtheplantothebaselinescenario.2)Informationonemissionsimpactsforareaswithin1,000feetofhighwayswillbeincludedasanaddendumtotheEnvironmentalJustice(EJ)Appendix.WhiletheEJanalysisintheDraftRTPdidshowsomelocationswithemissionsincreases,thisanalysisdidnotaccountforplanimprovementsinvehicletechnologyparticularlyfortruckonlycorridors.Thesecorridorsintheplanareexclusivelyforzeroandnearzeroemissionvehicles.Iftheseemissionimprovementshadbeenaccountedforwebelievetheanalysiswouldshownohotspotsassociatedwiththeplan.Assuch,theemissionsandexposureanalysisshownintheDraftEJAppendixisabundantlyconservativeanddemonstratingworstcasescenariooutcomes.Evenintheeventthathotspotsremainafteraccountingforvehicletechnologyimprovements,thereisnoreliablewaytoconcludehotspotswouldoverlaywithEJcommunities.Neithertheavailabledataonemissionsnorondistributionofhouseholdsandpopulationisatapreciseenoughlevelofgeographytoshowwheretheywouldintersect.SCAGisverymuchawareofthecompetinginterestsbetweennearroadwayexposuresandhealthbenefitsfromTODsasaresultofactivetransportationopportunity.SCAGencouragesresearchandstudiestofurtherexplorefeasiblemitigationmeasures.Pleasenotethatthenearroadwayexposuresaffectnotonlytheresidentsbutalsocommuters,travelers,andnearroadwayworkforceincludingoffices,retails,services,andvisitors,etc.
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areasthatareadjacenttofreewaysandhighlytraveledcorridors.TheRTP/SCSstates:freewayadjacentareasaccountforjust1percentoftheSCAGlandareabutaccommodate5.8percentofregionalhouseholdsandlessthan10percentoftotalSCAGregionjobs.TherearedisproportionatelyhigherconcentrationsofEnvironmentalJusticeCommunitiesinthefreewayadjacentareasbothcurrentlyinour2035projectionMoreover,astheRTP/SCSstates:The2012RTP/SCSlandusestrategycallsforredirectingfuturegrowthintoHQTA(HighQualityTransitAreas)Asaresult,partofthegrowthwilloccurinareaswhereHQTAisoverlappingwithin500feetfreewaybufferareas.ThequestionremainshowhighqualitycananHQTAbeifitiswithina500footbufferarea.Ofparticularconcernistherisksposedbyincompatiblelanduse,includingsensitivereceptorssuchashospitals,senior/daycenters,andhousingnearfreewayandbusyroadways.First,itwouldbehelpfultoiden fythoseportionsoftheHQTAswhicharehealthyfornewresidentialdevelopmentandwhicharenot.Asnoted,thehealthrisksfromfineparticulatematterdecreaserapidlythefurthertheparticlesaremeasuredfromasource.SomeareasoftheHQTAsmightbeveryappropriatefordevelopmentwhileinanotherlocationthiswouldnotbethecase.Por onsofHQTAswherenewresidentialdevelopmentisnotadvisablewillhavehigherhealthriskfromtoxicaircontaminantslikedieselparticulatematter.TheseportionscanbedeterminedbyapplyingguidelinesdevelopedbytheCaliforniaAirResourcesBoard(CARB)thatrecommendthatsensitivelandusesnotbesitedwithin1000feetofrailyards,warehouses,anddistributioncenters.Theguidelinesalsorecommendthatsensitivelandusesnotbesitedwithin500feetoffreeways,withoutappropriatemitigationstominimizethisrisk.SupportwiseinfilldevelopmentbyincentivizingthedevelopmentofhousingandsensitivelanduseslikeparksandschoolsoutsideportionsofHQTAswithhigherhealthriskfromtoxicaircontaminants.EncouragesitingmoresuitablelandusessuchascommercialandlightindustriallanduseswithinhigherhealthriskportionsofHQTAs.EncouragelocaljurisdictionstorequiremitigationmeasuresforproposedresidentialdevelopmentswithinportionsofHQTAswiththehighesthealthriskfromtoxicaircontaminants.The
However,regionwideairqualityisimprovingwiththe plancomparingtoeithertodaysconditionorfutureyearwithouttheplan.Moreover,whiletheregionalairqualityisimproving,thefreewayadjacentareasairqualityisimprovingevenmoresubstantially.Finally,whileSCAGencouragesfuturegrowthintheHQTA,only22%ofthegrowthincrementoccurswithinthe500feetroadwaybufferareas.TheEnvironmentalJusticeappendixalsoincludesamitigationtoolboxtominimizeexposuretoenvironmentalharm,wherefeasibleandappropriate.SCAGwillincludepotentialresourcestoaddressgentrificationintheEJappendix.Welookforwardtocontinuingtoworkwithenvironmentaljusticestakeholdersontheseimportantissues.TheRTP/SCSdoesresultinanincreaseinpopulationintheselocations,however,andassuchhealthriskcouldbehigherfortheseindividualsthaniftheywerenotinthebufferarea.
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appropriatemitigationmeasuresrequiredtoreducehealthriskposedbytheproposeddevelopmentshouldbeidentifiedbasedondetailedmodelingandassessmentoflocalconditionsatandsurroundingthesite,includingproximitytofreightrelatedhazardsandempiricallycountedamountsofdieseltruckandtraintrafficmovingthroughthearea.Specifically,mitigationmeasurescanbeputinplacebydeveloperstomeettherequiredconditionsforzoningapproval.Thesemeasuresrangefromindoorairfiltrationandmonitoringtositeredesignthatlocatessensitivereceptorsasfarawayaspossiblefromsourcesofairpollution.Toaddresspotentialadversehealthimpacts,mitigationmeasuresinproposedhousingdevelopmentsareasmightinclude:1)InstallHEPAindoorairfiltrationsystemsdesignedtofilterouttoxicaircontaminantsincludingfineparticulatematter(PM2.5);2)Usetriplepaned,sealed,andnonoperationalwindowsthatreducetheimpactofvibrationsfromfreighttrafficandminimizeoutdooraircontaminantflowintoindoorspaces;3)Usegreen,healthybuildingmaterialsthatdonotoffgasorreleaseairtoxinsthatcompromiseindoorairquality;4)Includeadequategreenspace,vegetativeplanting,andpermeablesurfaceareathatiswellmaintainedincorporatedintodevelopmentdesignandmanagementplans;5)Minimizeparkingallocationsinthedevelopmenttoreducecongestionandairpollutionfromadditionalautomobiletrafficandstalledfreighttraffic,andincentivizetheuseoftransit,carsharing,andzeroemissionelectricvehiclesbyintegratingchargersintothedesignofparkinggarageareas;6)Designdevelopmentstocapturepollutedrunofffromthesidesofbuildingsandotheroutdoorsurfacesthathaveaccumulateddieselsootandothercontaminantssothatsuchcontaminantsdonotflowintogreenspacesinthedevelopment;7)Designdevelopmentstoequitablydistributethehealthriskfromtoxicaircontaminantsposedbythedevelopmentacrossallunitsinthedevelopment(egdonotlocateaffordablehousingunitsintheleastdesirableareasofthedevelopmentclosesttofreighttransportfacilitiesandcorridorslikefreeways);8)Notifyprospectiveresidentswithinthedeedorleasedocumentforthepropertyofthehoursofoperationoffreighttransportfacilitiesandtheirrelatednoise,airquality,lightpollution,andhealthimpacts;GrowthinHQTAsisneeded,webelievethatsuch
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measuresmightbewaystoencourageadditionaldensityneartransithubswhilesimultaneouslyprotectingpublichealth.Thereneedstobefurtherdiscussionofthesetypesofideastodeterminewhicharemostappropriateandfeasibleineachsetofcircumstances.ManyoftheserecommendationswereputforthbypublichealthandenvironmentalorganizationsinresponsetothepublicationoftheSustainableCommunitiesStrategybytheAssociationofBayAreaGovernments.Tothegreatestextentfeasible,suchairpollutionmitigationstrategiesshouldnotbedevelopedbyeachregionindependently,butrathershouldbereflectedinstatewidepoliciesthatpromotehealthandenvironmentaljusticethroughoutCalifornia.
01101 ScottGoldie BrooksStreet 1.TheSCSdoesnotappeartoaccountforprojectsalreadyinprocessBrooksStreetrepresentstheownersofthousandsacresofpropertyinsouthernCalifornia,andhasalonghistoryoftopqualitydevelopmentsintheSCAGregion.However,weareconcernedthattheSCSprocesshasnotfullyaccountedforprojectsthatarealreadyinprocess.BrooksStreethasprojectsinsouthernCaliforniathatarefullyentitledandapprovedforbuildout,aswellasproposedprojectswithpendingapplicationsthatrepresentasubstantialinvestmentofresourcestodesign,planandcommunicatewiththecommunityandresponsibleagencies.WhiletheSCSitselfstatesthatitwascreatedwithinputfromlocaljurisdictions(see,forexample,DraftRTP/SCSp.111),weareconcernedthatthegrowthprojectionscontainedintheSCSandLandUsePatternMapsdonotinfactreflectthelandusedecisionsthathavebeenmadebylocaljurisdictions.Morespecifically,whiletheDraftRTP/SCSindicatesthatithasshiftedprojecteddensitiesfromlessdevelopedareastotheurbanizedcore,nowheredoestheSCSclearlystatethatthoseshiftsindensitytakeintoaccountdevelopmentprojectsthatareeitheralreadyapprovedorthatarereasonablyforeseeableprojectswhichlocaljurisdictionshavealreadyspentconsiderableresourcesprocessing.
Commentnoted.TheTAZlevelmapshavebeendevelopedforthepurposeofmodelingperformanceonly,andthegrowthandlanduseassumptionsfortheRTP/SCSaretobeadoptedatthejurisdictionallevel.
01102 ScottGoldie BrooksStreet 2.UnderlyingTAZdatamustbereleasedtoallowmeaningfulpubliccommentMoreover,theSCS'streatmentofapprovedprojectsisimpossibletodeterminefromtheinformationthatSCAGhasmadeavailabletothepublic.The2035LandUsePatternMaps,whichareintendedtodepictprojecteddensityandlanduse,areatsuchalargescale,withsuchslightcolor
Commentnoted.TheTAZlevelmapshavebeendevelopedforthepurposeofmodelingperformanceonly,andthegrowthandlanduseassumptionsfortheRTP/SCSaretobeadoptedatthejurisdictionallevel.TheTAZleveldatasetwasprovideduponrequestduringthecommentperiod.
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gradations,thattheycannotbeinterpretedinanymeaningfulway.TheSCSitselfdoesnotseemtocontemplatethatthesemapswillbeimportanttofuturetransportationandlandusedecisions.Instead,theSCSfocusesontheprojecteddensitycontainedinthedatathatunderliesthemapsdatathatSCAGhasnotreleasedtothepublic.TheSCSstatesthatthelanduseprojectionscontainedintheSCSarebasedonthedistributionofgrowthforecastdatatotransportationanalysiszones.(RTP/SCS,p.122.)AccordingtotheSCS,theTAZdatacontainsforecastedhousing,population,andemploymentdata,whichtheSCSusedtocreate"CommunityTypes"andmorerefined"DevelopmentTypes"thatcontainaverageusedesignations,densities,andbuildingintensities.TheSCSstatesthataDevelopmentType,includinganaverageresidentialdensity,hasbeenassignedtoeachTAZforpurposesofcreatingtheSCS.(DraftRTP/SCS,p.123.)However,itcannotbedeterminedwhetherthisassignmentwasmadeinamannerthattakesexistingconditions(includingapprovedandreasonablyforeseeableprojects)asabaselinefortheseprojections,norcanitbedeterminedhowtheforecastingwasdoneorhowitwasdistributedacrosstheTAZ.DespitethecriticalroleoftheTAZdataindevelopingtheSCS,wearenotawarethatSCAGhasmadethisdataavailableforpublicreviewandcommentinanymeaningfulway.Wewereabletoobtainpartialdata,showinghousingdensitiesonly,fromotheragenciesinvolvedintheSCSprocess.Thesedatadonotcontainemploymentorpopulationforecasts,anddonotcontainanyCommunityTypeorDevelopmentTypedesignationswhich,accordingtotheSCS,havebeenassignedtoeachTAZ.ItisnotpossibleforthepublictoprovidemeaningfulcommentontheSCSwithoutaccesstotheunderlyingdataonwhichdensityandlanduseprojectionsarebased.Intheabsenceoftheunderlyingdataandmodelingsupportingtheproposedplan,wearesubstantiallyimpairedinourabilitytoprovidemeaningfulpubliccommentonthetechnicalandlegaladequacyoftheplan.Inparticular,wecannotassesswhethertheunderlyingdataadequatelyreflectsalldevelopmentsasapproved.Underthefederal(5U.S.C.500et.seq.)andCaliforniaAdministrativeProceduresActs(Gov.Code11340etseq.,including11346.2(b)(6)),theopportunityforpubliccommentmustincludedisclosureofthedataandtechnical
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studiesin timetoprovidemeaningfulpubliccomment.See,e.g.SoliteCorp.v.EPA,952F.2d473,484(D.C.Cir.1991)(percuriam).Whilewearenotconfidentthatthedataiseitheraccurateorcomplete,wehavereviewedwhatdatawewereabletoobtain.Basedonourreviewweconcludethattheforecastedhousingdensitiesdoneedtobecorrected,asthenumbersclearlydonotreflecteitherexistingentitlementsorpending,reasonablyforeseeableprojects.
01103 ScottGoldie BrooksStreet 3.ImplicationsofconsistencywithunderlyingTAZdataTheimportanceoftheTAZdataisnotlimitedtounderstandinghowtheSCSwascreated.InadditiontobeingthebasisforcreationoftheSCSlanduseprojections,accordingtotheSCS,theTAZdataistobereliedoninfuturedeterminationsastowhetheraprojectisconsistentwiththeSCS.TheSCSstates:"SCAGsuggeststhatutilizingcommunitytypesattheTAZlevelofgeography(whichanaveragesizeof160squareacres)offerslocaljurisdictionsadequateinformationandflexibilitytomakeappropriateconsistencyfindingsforprojectstobeeligibletoreceiveCEQAstreamliningbenefits."(DraftRTP/SCSp.122.)"Onewayofdeterminingconsistency[withtheSCS]isifaproposedresidential/mixeduseorTPP[TransitPriorityProject]conformswiththeDevelopmentTypedesignatedforaTAZ."(DraftRTP/SCS,page148.)DespitetheseexplicitstatementsthattheexistingTAZdatawillbecriticallyimportanttofuturedecisionsaffectingprojects,SCAGhasnotprovidedthepublictheopportunitytoreviewandcommentontheTAZdatainanymeaningfulway.Significantly,aproject'sconsistencywiththeSCSwhichistobedeterminedattheTAZlevelaccordingtotheSCSaffectsnotonlytheavailabilityofCEQAstreamliningincentives,butcanhaveadverseconsequencesfortheavailabilityoffederalfundsfortransitimprovementsthatwouldservetheproject.TransitimprovementprojectsrelyingonfederalfundingmustbeconsistentwithanapprovedRTP,andwiththeadoptionofSB375,thatincludesconsistencywiththeSustainableCommunitiesStrategyportionoftheRTPaswell.(40CFR93.102;42U.S.C.7506.)Thus,iftheDraftRTP/SCShasshifteddensityawayfromapprovedorpendingprojects,thoseprojectsstandtolosecriticaltransitimprovements.Thelossoftransitimprovementscouldimpairprojectfeasibility,orcreatenewunmitigatedimpactsiftrafficmitigationsbecome
Commentnoted.SCAGsSCSisbaseduponlocalinputfromlocaljurisdictionsandSB375legislationdoesnotrequirethatajurisdictionslandusepoliciesandregulations,includingitsgeneralplan,beconsistentwiththeSCS.Thereisnointenttoimpactthelocalentitlementprocess.Insomecases,SCAGalteredsmallarealanduseassumptionstobetterreflecttrendsoccurringinmanytransitrichareasoftheregion.WhiletheSCSisintendedtoprovidearegionalstrategythatlocalgovernmentsmayconsiderandgenerallyincludesthequantitativegrowthprojectionsfromeachcityandcountyintheregiongoingforward,localjurisdictionsmaintainlocallanduseauthority.TheTAZlevelmapshavebeendevelopedforthepurposeofmodelingperformance.Leadagencies,includinglocaljurisdictions,maintaintheirowndiscretioninhowtodetermineconsistencyofanyfutureprojectwiththeSCS.
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unfunded,whichcouldresultinanunlawfultakingofprivatevestedpropertyrightsforthoseprojectsthathavealreadybeenapprovedbylocaljurisdictions.Inmanycases,approvedprojectsalsoinvolveexecuteddevelopmentagreements,whichmeansthatviolationofcontractualrightscouldalsoresult,causingdifficultsituationsfordevelopersandlocaljurisdictions.Weareconcernedthataproject'sinconsistencywiththegrowthprojectionscontainedintheSCSmayhavebroaderimplicationsaswell.Localjurisdictionswillbeunderconsiderablepressuretoconformtheirgeneralplanstothedensity,intensity,andlandusescontainedintheSCS,orrisklosingtransportationfundingthroughouttheirjurisdictions.Whilealltheimplicationsofaproject'sinconsistencywiththeSCShaveyettobedetermined,weareconcernedthatbyshiftingdensityawayfromlocallyapprovedandpendingprojects,theSCSiscreatinglandusepolicyinviolationofSB375'smandatethattheSCSmustnotsupersedethelanduseauthorityofcitiesandcounties.(Gov'tCode65080(b)(2)(J).)
01104 ScottGoldie BrooksStreet 4.RTP/SCSconsistencyshouldbedeterminedatthejurisdictionallevelTheTAZmapsareamodelingtoolforengaginginaregionalplanningandevaluationprocess.ThefeasibilityofachievingthepreciseresultsinanyparticularTAZareahasnotbeenevaluatedorconfirmedbyanycitycouncilorboardofsupervisors,andasexplainedaboveitappearsthattheTAZdataandmapsfor2035dodeviatefromgeneralplansandvestedentitlementsthathavebeenapprovedbytheseelectedofficials.Whileweunderstandelectedbodiesorsenioradministrativestaffsoflocaljurisdictionsmayhaveapprovedlocalinputfortheoverallpopulationandhouseholdnumberswithintheirrespectivejurisdictions,webelievetheyhavenotapprovedtheTAZdataormaps.Accordingly,requiringconsistencydeterminationsconcerningusedesignations,density,andbuildingintensityatthesmallscaleofeachTAZwouldbeinappropriateandoverlyprescriptive.Again,SB375specificallyprecludesSCAGfrominterferingwithlocallandusedecisions.1SB375requiresthatanSCSidentifythegenerallocationofuses,residentialdensities,andbuildingintensitieswithintheregion.Calif.GovernmentCode65080(b)(2)(B)(i)(emphasisadded).ThusthereisnolegislativemandatethatSCAGidentifythelocationoflanduses,densitiesandbuilding
Commentnoted.SCAGsSCSisbaseduponlocalinputfromlocaljurisdictionsandSB375legislationdoesnotrequirethatajurisdictionslandusepoliciesandregulations,includingitsgeneralplan,beconsistentwiththeSCS.Thereisnointenttoimpactthelocalentitlementprocess.Insomecases,SCAGalteredsmallarealanduseassumptionstobetterreflecttrendsoccurringinmanytransitrichareasoftheregion.WhiletheSCSisintendedtoprovidearegionalstrategythatlocalgovernmentsmayconsiderandgenerallyincludesthequantitativegrowthprojectionsfromeachcityandcountyintheregiongoingforward,localjurisdictionsmaintainlocallanduseauthority.TheTAZlevelmapshavebeendevelopedforthepurposeofmodelingperformance.Leadagencies,includinglocaljurisdictions,maintaintheirowndiscretioninhowtodetermineconsistencyofanyfutureprojectwiththeSCS.
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intensitieswithintheregionmorepreciselydowntoaTAZlevel.Instead,SCAGshouldappropriatelyidentifythesecharacteristicsatalevelconsistentwiththeneedforreasonableflexibilityandlocalcontrol.Atthelowest,thelevelofcomparisonshouldbeatajurisdictionallevelparticularlygiventhattherearenearly200jurisdictionswithintheSCAGregion.Accordingly,weurgeSCAGtoidentifysuchcharacteristicsatnofinerascalethanatthelesserof(i)thejurisdiction,and(ii)thesubregion(i.e.,whereunincorporatedcountylandisdividedintosubregions).DespiteSB375'smandatethattheSCSnotregulatelanduse,thedraftRTP/SCS"shifts"households"fromtheperipheryintotheurbanizedcore"statingthatmuchofthisshift"willoccurnaturallyinthemarketplace,"andthatthis"shift"wasdone"perconsultationwiththelocaljurisdictions."(DraftRTP/SCSp.128.)However,thisshiftdoesnot"occurnaturally,"northrougha"consultation"processbetweenagencystaffthatexcludesthepublic.Instead,suchashiftcanonlyoccur,ifatall,aspartofaseparateandlengthydiscretionarydevelopmentapplicationprocessinvolvingrequeststolocallandusejurisdictionstoamendtheirgeneralplans,specificplans,areasplans,andzoning.Inshort,thereisno"shift"tohighdensityhousinginsomelocaljurisdictions,andawayfromhousingdensityalreadyapprovedbyotherjurisdictions,unlessanduntilthelocallandusejurisdictionsadopttherequesteddiscretionaryapprovals.
01201 AndrewHenderson
BuildingIndustryAssociationofSouthernCalifornia
Concerningtheactualpolicydocumentsatissue(i.e.,theDraftRTPandtheDraftSCSthemselves),BIASChasonefundamentalconcern:Page148oftheDraftSCSsuggeststhatlocalgovernmentsshouldlooktotransportationanalysiszone(TAZ)mapstodeterminewhetheraparticularprojectisconsistentwiththelandusedesignation,density,andbuildingintensityoftheSCS.BIASCbelievesthatthissectionneedstoberevisedforthreedistinctreasons.First,BIASCisinformedthattheTAZmapsbreaklandmassesupintorelativelysmallscaleareasaveragingperhapsonlyabout150acresinsize(andevensmallerinmoredenselypopulatedareas).RequiringdeterminationsabouttheconsistencyoffuturelandusestotheSCSconcerningusedesignations,density,buildingintensityandtheapplicableSCSpoliciesatthatfineascalewouldbeoverlyprescriptive.SCAGneednotbenearlysoprescriptive
Commentnoted.TheTAZlevelmapshavebeendevelopedforthepurposeofmodelingperformanceonly,andthegrowthandlanduseassumptionsfortheRTP/SCSaretobeadoptedatthejurisdictionallevel.
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becauseSB375requiresonlythatanSCSidentifythegenerallocationofuses,residentialdensities,andbuildingintensitieswithintheregion.Calif.GovernmentCode65080(b)(2)(B)(i)(emphasisadded).Giventhislegislativemandate,thereisnoreasonforSCAGtomeasureandcomparelandusecharacteristicswithintheregionattheveryfineTAZlevelvisvispolicydeterminations.Instead,thefinalRTP/SCSshouldpermitlocalagenciestomeasureandcomparelandusecharacteristicswiththeregionalstrategyatalevelconsistentwiththeneedforreasonableongoingflexibilityinlocallandusecontrol.Therefore,thelevelofcomparisonshouldbe,atthefinest,atacityjurisdictionallevel(includinganysphereofinfluence)giventhattherearenearly200separatejurisdictionswithintheSCAGregion.BIASCspecificallyurgesSCAGtoidentifyandcomparesuchlandusecharacteristicsatnofinerascalethan(i)thecities(includingtheirrespectiveadjoiningspheresofinterest),and(ii)concerningtheunincorporatedareasoutsideoflocalspheresofinterest,bycomparisontotheroughscalemapthatindicatesgenerallythelocationsofbuildingintensificationshownintheSCS.SeeExhibit2totheDraftSCSBackgroundDocumentation,foundathttp://rtpscs.scag.ca.gov/Documents/2012/draft/SR/2012dRTP_SCSBackgroundDocumentation.pdf.
01202 AndrewHenderson
BuildingIndustryAssociationofSouthernCalifornia
Second,BIASCisconcernedthatanyprescriptiveuseofTAZmapsforpolicypurposescouldhavenegativeconsequencesvisvisthependingprocessforarequiredfederalconformitydetermination.Underthefederallawsthatrelatetothefederalfundingofregionaltransportationinfrastructure,anRTPmustbeconstructedusingthelatestplanningassumptions.Usingthelatestplanningassumptionsmeansthattheconformitydeterminationisbasedonthemostcurrentinformationthatisavailabletostateandlocalplanners.U.S.E.P.A.GuidancefortheUseofLatestPlanningAssumptionsinTransportationConformityDeterminations(EPA420B08901,December2008),2.2(emphasisintheoriginal),foundat:http://www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/policy/420b08901.pdfandincorporatedhereinbyreference.IfandtotheextentthatSCAGsTAZlevelmapsandthedatareflectedinthemareunacceptabletolocalplannersandwerenotavailabletothemwhentheRTPwasdeveloped,thenfinescaledata
Commentnoted.TheTAZlevelmapshavebeendevelopedforthepurposeofmodelingperformanceonly,andthegrowthandlanduseassumptionsfortheRTP/SCSaretobeadoptedatthejurisdictionallevel.
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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response
basedupontheTAZmapsshouldnotbeincorporatedintotheRTPviatheSCS.TheywouldinsteadneedtobeseparatedoutfromtheRTPandatmostmadepartofanalternativeplanningscenario(APS)underCaliforniaGovernmentCodesection65080(b)(2)(H).WebelievethatanyconflictbetweenthefederallymandatedRTPapproachandtheSCSTAZlevelmapscanbeavoidedbymakingallrelevantpolicydeterminationsbasedoncomparisonsviewedatthecitylevel(includinganysphereofinfluence)andbyreferencetothegeneralizedlocationsdepictedforintensificationinunincorporatedcountyareas(forexample,inExhibit2totheBackgroundDocumentationasnotedabove).
01203 AndrewHenderson
BuildingIndustryAssociationofSouthernCalifornia
Third,noTAZlevelmapswereprovidedtothepublicaspartofeithertheDraftRTP/SCSortheDraftPEIR,norweretheyincludedinanyoftheappendicesthatSCAGprovidedtothepublic.Hopefully,theomissionreflectsSCAGsprepublicationdeterminationtoforgotheuseofanyTAZlevelmapsforpolicypurposes.Ifthiswerethecase,thenitappearsthatSCAGsstaffinadvertentlyfailedtorevisepage148oftheDraftSCSpriortoitspublicationforcomment;andSCAGshouldnowrevi