Meeting_Body
AD HOC SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
JUNE 15, 2016
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: SUSTAINABILITY ANNUAL REPORT/PERFORMANCE METRICS
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE status report on Sustainability Annual Report and Sustainability Performance Metrics.
Issue
ISSUE
In April 2015, Metro released its first Countywide Sustainability Annual Report (Annual Report). Staff is updating the Board on the progress to date on the second Countywide Sustainability Annual report and presenting case studies that will be featured in the report (Attachment A). The case studies exemplify Metro’s sustainability principles, represent various geographies in Los Angeles County, inform County stakeholders of new and innovative sustainability projects, and aim to inspire future sustainability projects countywide.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
In December 2012, the Board adopted the Metro Countywide Sustainability Planning Policy (CSPP). As part of the Implementation Plan in the CSPP, staff was directed to produce an annual report tracking sustainability indicators countywide. Last year, Metro released the first of these reports which included case studies and sustainability performance metrics. In preparation for the 2016 Annual Report, staff compiled a list of potential case studies of sustainable transportation projects from around the county (Attachment A), as well as status updates on the Implementation Plan (Attachment B). The case studies were selected based on geographic diversity and exemplifying Metro sustainability principles from the CSPP.
The goal of the Annual Report is to track how Metro is integrating sustainability principles into Metro activities and to track countywide sustainability outcomes, consistent with CSPP direction. The CSPP also includes a list of specific sustainability performance metrics. These performance metrics track sustainability outcomes influenced by Metro’s activities as well as those outside of the agency’s direct control.
The 2015 annual report included three main components: 1) case studies, 2) implementation status update, and 3) sustainability performance metrics. The case studies focused on transportation-related projects throughout Los Angeles County that exemplify Metro’s sustainability principles. These case studies were representative of various land use conditions, geography, and travel patterns throughout the county. The case studies highlighted new and innovative sustainability projects, and aimed to advance continued sustainability work in the region. The report also provided a status update on various activities Metro is undertaking to implement the countywide sustainability policy. The section on performance metrics established a baseline measurement for the following:
• vehicle miles traveled
• total person trips for carpool and active transportation
• number of jobs within a half-mile radius of station
• population within a half-mile radius of station
• pedestrian and cyclists killed or injured in car crashes
• daily total CO2 emissions for LA County
• daily total vehicle delay for LA County
• average trip lengths for auto trips
• average trip lengths for total trips
• Metro transit ridership total annual boarding
Following the release of the 2015 Sustainability Annual Report, the Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee directed staff on July 15, 2015 to augment the performance metrics. Subject to data availability and other technical considerations, these new metrics are to include equity, job access, technology, vehicle ownership, activity centers, bicycle and pedestrian safety, emerging technologies and shared mobility, environmental justice and income in Los Angeles County. Staff was requested to consider reporting techniques that utilize online or interactive media. Further, this effort should improve the sensitivity and reliability of metrics over time by emphasizing observed data over modeled data. Finally, as part of the effort to improve metrics, staff was directed to design a framework by which the Board could consider developing quantified objectives.
Staff is initiating procurement for a technical consultant to assist with the enhanced metric assignment. We currently anticipate circulating the case studies and implementation status update components presented here later this year. Staff also plans to update the Implementation Plan for future annual reports to better reflect new and evolving work efforts related to implementing the sustainability policy in the CSPP.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue to develop the case studies and implementation status for release later this year. For 2017, staff anticipates updated sustainability performance metrics per Committee feedback and setting a framework for performance metrics goals. Staff will report back to the Committee as needed to with updates regarding the agency’s on-going efforts.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Proposed List of Case Studies for 2016 Annual Report
Attachment B - Draft Program Metrics Update
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Katie Lemmon, Transportation Planning Manager (213) 922-7441
Jacob Lieb, Sustainability Policy Manager, (213) 922-4132
Diego Cardoso, Executive Officer, (213) 922-3076
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Therese W. McMillan, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-7077
