Taking Stock of California's Leadership in Integrated Regional Planning

"Today," says Benfield, "the law is being implemented:  three of California's four largest major metropolitan regions – Southern California, Sacramento, and San Diego – have adopted their plans, called sustainable communities strategies, technically parts of their transportation plans..."

"The report finds much to praise in the new plans:

'As intended by SB 375, each region created its own tailored mix of land use decisions, transportation investments, and policies to achieve its target. These sustainable community strategies lay the foundation for smarter, more efficient growth and much healthier communities, while setting a high benchmark for the rest of California's regions."'

The report, titled The Bold Plans for California Communities, doesn't just look backwards, as Benfield notes, it "includes a number of policy recommendations to help ensure effective implementation of the new community strategies."