A new state-mandated plan for the Bay Area may displace the region's goods movement businesses, thereby worsening congestion, increasing air pollution, raising consumer prices, and eliminating well-paying green- and blue-collar jobs.
Mandated by SB 375, the draft Plan Bay Area seeks to to reduce the region's carbon emissions and still accommodate substantial increases in jobs and population by encouraging dense infill development close to transit, i.e. Smart Growth.
However, by focusing compact growth in central areas, often near major goods movement corridors, the plan threatens to inflate commercial rents and thereby displace the region's industrial businesses, resulting in greater truck travel and congestion, worse air pollution, higher transportation costs translating into more costly goods, the permanent loss of industrial land, fewer well-paying blue/green collar jobs in proximity to the urban workforce residing in the central Bay Area, and less economic diversity.
It now appears that the final plan, scheduled to be approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments in mid-July, will be amended to protect viable industrial lands and to improve goods movement in the region.
FULL STORY: Does Industry Have a Future in the Bay Area?
Plan Bay Area 2050, Approved Last Week, Makes the Opinion Page
A traditionally controversial planning exercise, the regular update of the 30-year plan for the San Francisco Bay Area, has crossed the finish line again. Opponents aren't letting the issues rest, however.
Plan Bay Area Update Calls for 30 Percent More Housing by 2040
The plan centers a large portion of the housing growth — around 46 percent — in the Big 3 Bay Area Cities: San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.
Regional Planning Begins To Meet CA's Stricter Emissions Standards
Two Bay Area planning agencies have jointly released what they call their "Initial Vision Scenario", a first step in implementing the Sustainable Community Strategy required by state law (SB 375, 2008) to reduce climate emissions from transportation.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)