Meeting_Body
REVISED
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
DECEMBER 2, 2021
Preamble
Motion by:
DIRECTORS GARCETTI, SOLIS, KUEHL, BONIN, AND MITCHELL
Addressing Climate Change through Vehicle Miles Traveled Reduction:
Aligning with State of California Climate Goals
Across the globe, cities and countries are taking action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to spare future generations from the worst effects of climate change. President Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement and, most recently at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), committed to reducing GHG emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels in 2030. Additionally, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which authorizes billions of dollars in highway, transit, and safety programs, has a strong climate change focus.
The state of California is a global leader in addressing climate change and is prioritizing infrastructure that will support reduced GHG emissions. Governor Newsom's Executive Directive N-19-19 aligns state programs, including $5 billion in annual transportation spending, with GHG reduction goals. The state has set goals in line with global needs under AB 32, now updated under SB 32. Currently, surface transportation is responsible for the largest share of statewide GHG emissions and as such, reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) is a central goal to successfully addressing climate change.
Under SB 375, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) sets GHG targets, including VMT reduction goals, for each Metropolitan Planning Organization in the state. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) creates the Regional Transportation Plan/ Sustainable Community Strategy (RTP/ SCS) goals in line with these state goals.
However, as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority overseeing surface transportation in Los Angeles County, Metro has not yet adopted VMT reduction goals in support of the SCAG or CARB targets. In 2019, the County o...
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