Once a bastion of sprawl, the San Diego region is now embracing one of the most significant regional planning efforts in the nation's history. It is the first region in California to draft a Sustainable Communities Strategy, as mandated by SB 375.
SANDAG (The San Diego regional planning agency) is behind the strategy, which is currently open for public comment before being approved. The goal of the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) is to reduce the region's per capita emissions by 7% by 2020 and 13% by 2035.
Josh Stephens reports:
"By now, the methods for reaching such targets have become well accepted throughout the state. Regions are encouraging compact development, beefing up public transit plans, and allocating new housing-according to Regional Housing Needs Assessments-in locations that enable residents to drive less, rather than by spreading housing evenly around a region. San Diego especially is investing in transportation demand management (TDM) strategies such as high-occupancy toll lanes on its freeways.
A combination of all of these tactics, officials say, will enable the region to meet, or even exceed, its SB 375 targets. Moreover, SANDAG is going beyond 2035 and actually is planning for growth through 2050."
Thanks to Josh Stephens
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