Come November 1, gasoline and diesel taxes will increase by 12 and 20 cents per gallon, respectively, in California, providing badly needed revenue to repair roads, bridges, and improve transit, but truck pollution loophole will still foul the air.
After Gov. Jerry Brown signs the Road Repair and Accountability Act into law as expected, "owners of trucks that currently meet California rules cannot be required to retire or upgrade their rigs until their machines are either 13 years old or have traveled at least 800,000 miles," reports David Danelski, an investigative and environmental reporter for The Press-Enterprise newspaper in Riverside, California.
As posted earlier, the main challenge that faced the governor and Democratic leadership pushing the controversial transportation funding bill was reaching the two-thirds supermajority of supporters needed in both legislative chambers. Without the trucking emissions provision in "SEC. 18. Section 43021" in SB 1, leaders felt it would be impossible.
Danelski presents two opposing viewpoints on how that controversial provision will affect air quality.
Tremendous setback to air quality improvement efforts, particularly in Southern California.
"Diesel trucks are the largest source of smog-forming nitrogen oxides in Southern California, accounting for more than 25 percent of emissions," notes Danelski.
You can’t take the largest source off the table,” said Dr. Joseph Lyou, a member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District board and president of the Coalition for Clean Air who was appointed to the board by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. “How can you possibly make that up?”
Furthermore, indirect source emission "rules now under consideration that would require seaports, rail yards, warehouse-distribution centers and government fleets to use cleaner trucks would be more vulnerable to legal challenges, the regional air-quality officials said."
On the opposing side, state transportation officials believe that "SB 1 will reduce overall truck emissions because the legislation requires the state Department of Motor Vehicles to enforce existing rules that require trucks now operating to meet the 2010 standard for new trucks within the next six years." See "SEC. 45. Section 4000.15" of the bill's text.
Translation: if the truck doesn't meet emissions standards now, the enforcement becomes more rigorous, but if trucks are now compliant with the California Air Resources Board's Truck and Bus Rule, they enjoy great financial savings at the expense of increased diesel emissions in later years.
In summary, similar to the $1 billion in side deals needed to woo just a few reluctant legislators, infrastructure won-out over public health due to the state constitution's onerous requirements regulating bills that increase taxes.
Hat tip to MTC-ABAG Library.
FULL STORY: Gas tax bill — designed to fix California’s roads — could lead to more smog
Two New California Laws Take Aim at Pollution from Heavy-Duty Trucks
Trucks, which disproportionately contribute toward air pollution, will soon be subject to similar types of smog checks that apply to light-duty vehicles. A second bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom will spur movement toward cleaner alternatives.
A Departing Blow to Clean Air on Pruitt's Final Day
Friday may have been disgraced EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's last day in office of the agency in charge of protecting the nation's environment, but he still managed to roll back a regulation to create lasting air pollution far greater than VW did.
Southern California Air Quality Paradox: Air Quality Worsens While Emissions Drop
Ozone pollution is worsening in five counties in Southern California, and the Air Quality Management District doesn't know why.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.
