Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Network Roundup

Will California Achieve Its Anti-Sprawl Targets?

As California's big four metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) try to determine how much they can influence growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, significant questions remain. The state's Senate Bill 375, typically referred to as the Anti-Sprawl Bill, requires planners and policymakers to develop meaningful solutions to curb sprawl, reduce driving, and promote growth in areas that will have the least impact on the environment.

As Amanda Eaken from the Natural Resources Defense Council writes on the Switchboard, the predictions are encouraging. By bringing Californians closer to their jobs and providing better transportation choices, by 2050 SB 375 could:

    • Help Californians drive 3.7 trillion fewer miles
    • Help Californians save $6,400 per year on transportation and other household costs
    • Save the state $194 billion in infrastructure costs with smarter planning
    • Save 140 billion gallons of gasoline
    • Save more open space than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined

But the models won't mean much, she argues, if policymakers don't invest in projects that can bring about the needed change. Without shifting funds away from destructive development and transportation projects, you will only have plans sitting on shelves.

Eakan writes:

In every case there are certain ambitious policies and there are certain areas where we know the MPOs can do more. For example, in every case, we fail to see a shift of transportation funding to support the improved land use patterns every MPO is calling for. This is the thrust of SB 375 – to align regional investments to support a more sustainable land use pattern. The MPOs make assumptions – in certain cases very ambitious and laudable assumptions about the increase in walkable, transit oriented development, but then fail to shift their transportation investments to make sure we realize these better futures.

The challenge for advocates like the NRDC lies in pressuring MPOs to revise their long-term transportation plans to better reflect the targets set by SB 375. Adding capacity to freeways or permitting greenfield development now will only make the laudable targets more difficult to realize in the future.

Elsewhere on the Network, read the latest argument from sprawl apologist Wendell Cox that the demographic shift away from suburbia has been exaggerated. Richard Florida analyzes a new report on attracting the "creative class" to rural areas. And finally The Dirt has a good post describing some of the finalists in the Build a Better Burb design competition.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Will the State DOT Support St. Louis’s Sustainable Transportation Surge?

In America cities, state roads are often among the most dangerous. In St. Louis, though, some say the state DOT is becoming a stronger safety partner than ever — and even more could be done to build on the momentum.

September 19, 2024

Thursday’s Headlines Are Trying to Walk Here

Forget 15 minutes. Some places in the U.S., like Atlanta, aren't even 45-minute cities, according to a new study comparing walkability around the world.

September 19, 2024

Is St. Louis’ Transportation Structure Set Up to Sustain its Multimodal Boom?

St. Louis could soon become the latest U.S. city to radically restructure how it plans its transportation future. Not everyone thinks that's a good idea.

September 18, 2024

Another Reason We Have a Housing Crisis? Highways!

In urban neighborhoods — especially Black ones — land once set aside for homes was decimated for car drivers.

September 18, 2024

Wednesday’s Headlines Are for the Children

Climate change is forcing schools to give up their playgrounds when we could be giving up our cars, or at least diesel-powered school buses. Learn more in headlines.

September 18, 2024
See all posts