California's Great Transportation Divide—Between Two Key Governmental Agencies

"A historic first meeting this week between the California Air Resources Board (ARB) and the California Transportation Commission (CTC), required by [Assembly Bill 179 (2017) by Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona)], produced no formal action plans," reported Melanie Curry, editor of Streetsblog California, on June 29. "But it did demonstrate the disconnect between the perspectives of the two groups, who hold decision-making power over California’s transportation systems."

The CTC oversees the spending of state transportation funds while the Air Resources Board deals with the emissions created by fossil-fuel powered transportation, among other sources. One area of overlap is regional transportation planning that was transformed by the passage of SB 375 in 2008. "Each of California's metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) must prepare a 'sustainable communities strategy' (SCS) as an integral part of its regional transportation plan (RTP)," according to ARB.

ARB is preparing a report for the legislature, required by Senate Bill 150 (2017) by Sen. Ben Allen ((D-Redondo Beach), "that discusses regional changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as best practices and challenges to achieve greater reductions under SB 375," according to ARB's notice [pdf] announcing four workshops to solicit input.

"The results so far are not good—while California has experienced a slight decline in driving, it is nowhere near enough to reach the state’s 2020 goals, let alone stricter goals beyond that date," adds Curry. See ARB graph via Streetsblog of increasing vehicle miles traveled and GHGs. 

Recent reports and articles have focused on the dichotomy of increasing emissions from transportation while emissions from others sectors are decreasing, particularly after ARB released in June 2017 its most recent greenhouse gas emissions inventory report.

The ARB–CTC meeting was important because it made transportation commissioners aware that their spending decisions were part of the problem, and that SB 375 has not been working as intended.

And early data also shows that the creation of the SCSs did not change transportation funding patterns at all. That is, overall local and state spending on roads and highways is about the same as it was before California decided it needed to shift transportation funding towards to more sustainable and healthy modes such as transit and active transportation.

[T]hese early findings underscore the need for, and the importance of, this week’s historic joint meeting: The environmental and climate goals California is trying to reach are being undermined by the way transportation investments are made.

Curry goes on to describe the interactions between the members of the two groups, along with providing numerous links to helpful data by ARB staff pointing to the need to reduce vehicle miles traveled. For example:

At this meeting, members of the two groups seemed to talk at cross-purposes. Commissioners focused on economic concerns, while board members repeatedly reminded everyone that health outcomes were just as important.

A final, disappointing observation made by the Streetsblog editor that speaks well of the non-profit transportation news site:

There didn’t seem to be any reporters present, save for this one, and there hasn’t been any news coverage of the meeting. People don’t seem to understand the significance, let alone the urgency, of bringing together and coordinating different state goals under one roof.

Hat tip to Jim Stewart.