Comments and Responses - Californiartpscs.scag.ca.gov/.../2012fRTP_CommentsResponses.pdf ·...

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CommentsandResponses

ADOPTEDAPRIL2012

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Index(ALPHABETICAL)

Affiliation SubmittalID

AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty 001,002AmericanLungAssociation 003,004AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers 005AmeronInternationalCorporationWaterTransmissionGroup 006

ArroyoVerdugoSubregion 007AssociationofCaliforniaCitiesOrangeCounty 008AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia 009BREATHELA 010BrooksStreet 011BuildingIndustryAssociationofSouthernCalifornia 012,013BurbankGlendalePasadenaAirportAuthority 014CaliforniaDepartmentofParksandRecreation 015CaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealth 016CaliforniaDepartmentofTransportation 017CaliforniaEnvironmentalAssociates 018CaliforniaNaturalGasVehicleCoalition 019CaliforniaRuralLegalAssistance,Inc. 020CaliforniaTruckingAssociation 021CanyonLandConservationFund 022CentennialCalifornia 023CenterforDemographicResearch 024CitizensAllianceforPropertyRights 025CitizensAllianceforPropertyRights,VenturaCounty 026CityofAlhambra 027CityofAnaheim 028CityofBrea 029CityofBurbank 030CityofChino 031


CityofChinoHills 032CityofColton 033CityofCypress 034CityofDiamondBar 035CityofGlendale 036CityofHemet 037CityofHighland 038CityofIrvine 039CityofLaCanadaFlintridge 040CityofLaHabra 041CityofLakeForest 042CityofLosAngeles 043CityofNewportBeach 044CityofOntario 045CityofOxnard 046CityofPalmdale 047CityofPasadena 048CityofPicoRivera 049CityofRanchoSantaMargarita 050CityofRiverside 051CityofSanClemente 052CityofSanJacinto 053CityofSantaAna 054CityofSantaClarita 055,056CityofSouthPasadena 057,058CityofStanton 059CityofThousandOaks,PublicWorks/Transit 060CityofTustin 061CleanAirNow 062

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CleanEnergy 063ClimatePlan 064CoachellaValleyAssociationofGovernmentsandWesternRiversideCouncilofGovernments 065

CountyofLosAngelesBoardofSupervisors 066CountyofLosAngelesDepartmentofPublicHealth 067CountyofOrange 068DesertXpressEnterprises,LLC 069downeygreen 070Editor,ElToroInfoSite 071EnvironmentalProtectionAgency 072FourCornersCoalition 073FriendsofCoyoteHills 074FriendsofHarbors,Beaches,andParks 075GatewayCitiesCouncilofGovernments 076GlobalLandUseandEconomicCouncil 077Governor'sOfficeofPlanningandResearch 078GRID/ECSTCSystems 079HighgroveAreaRedevelopment 080,081HillsForEveryone 082HumanImpactPartners 083ImperialCountyAirPollutionControlDistrict 084KohlRanchCompanyLLC 085LA32NeighborhoodCouncil 086LA32NeighborhoodCouncilandNELACoalition 087LatinoHealthAccess 088LosAngelesAllianceforaNewEconomy 089LosAngelesCountyBicycleCoalition 090LosAngelesCountyBusinessFederation 091LosAngelesCountyDepartmentofPublicHealth 092LosAngelesCountyDepartmentofRegionalPlanning 093LosAngelesCountyMetropolitanTransportationAuthority 094,095,096


LosAngelesWorldAirports 097MarchJointPowersAuthority 098Mobility21 099MoveLA 100,101NAIOP 102NaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil 103,104NO710ActionCommittee 105,106OrangeCounty(multipleagencies) 107OrangeCountyBusinessCouncil 108OrangeCountyCouncilofGovernments 109OrangeCountyRenewableEnergySociety 110OrangeCountyTransportationAuthority 111,112,113OrangelineDevelopmentAuthority 114PasadenaChamberofCommerce 115PhysiciansforSocialResponsibility,andOtherOrganizations(collaborativeletter) 116

PortofLongBeach 117,118PuenteChinoHillsTaskForceoftheSierraClub 119RealtorsCommitteeonAirQuality 120RegentProperties 121RegionalHispanicChamberofCommerce 122ReservationTransportationAuthority 123RiversideCountyDepartmentofPublicHealth 124RiversideCountyPlanningDepartment 125RiversideCountyTransportationCommission 126,127,128RiversideTransitAgency 129SafeRoutestoSchoolNationalPartnership 130,131,132SanBernardinoAssociatedGovernments 133SanFernandoValleyCouncilofGovernments 134SanFernandoValleyGreenTeam 135SanGabrielValleyCouncilofGovernments 136SanGabrielValleyEconomicPartnership 137

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SanGorgonioSierraClub 138SanManuelBandofMissionIndians 139SantaMonicaMountainsConservancy 140SiembabCorporation 141SierraClub 142SouthBayCitiesCouncilofGovernments 143SouthCoastAirQualityManagementDistrict 144SouthernCaliforniaAssociationofNonProfitHousing 145SouthernCaliforniaBusinessCommunity 146SouthernCaliforniaContractorsAssociation 147SouthernCaliforniaContractorsAssociation,Inc. 148SouthernCaliforniaEdison 149SouthernCaliforniaGasCompany 150SouthernCaliforniaLeadershipCouncil 151,152SouthernCaliforniaRegionalRailAuthority 153StephenWRogersP.E.Consulting 154,155,156Supervisor,FirstDistrict,CountyofVentura 157TheAmericanInstituteofArchitects 158,159TheCenterforCommunityActionandEnvironmentalJustice 160

TheKennedyCommission 161TheTransitCoalition 162TransitCoalition 163TransportationCorridorAgencies 164Trustee,SanBernardinoCommunityCollegeDistrict 165,166,167,168UnitarianUniversalistLegislativeMinistry 169UrbanandEnvironmentalPolicyInstituteOccidentalCollege 170

ValleyIndustryandCommerceAssociation 171VCCool+VenturaBicycleUnion 172VenturaCountyAirPollutionControlDistrict 173


VenturaCountyClimateCareOptionsOrganizedLocally 174WesternStatesPetroleumAssociation 175WildlifeCorridorConservationAuthority 176WRAC 177NoAffiliation/Individuals 176through303

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Index(BYTYPEOFGROUP)


CountyTransportationCommissions LosAngelesCountyMetropolitanTransportationAuthority 094,095,096OrangeCountyTransportationAuthority 111,112,113RiversideCountyTransportationCommission 126,127,128SanBernardinoAssociatedGovernments 133Subregions ArroyoVerdugoSubregion 007CoachellaValleyAssociationofGovernmentsandWesternRiversideCouncilofGovernments 065

GatewayCitiesCouncilofGovernments 076OrangeCountyCouncilofGovernments 109SanFernandoValleyCouncilofGovernments 134SanGabrielValleyCouncilofGovernments 136SouthBayCitiesCouncilofGovernments 143LocalAgencies CityofAlhambra 027CityofAnaheim 028CityofBrea 029CityofBurbank 030CityofChino 031CityofChinoHills 032CityofColton 033CityofCypress 034CityofDiamondBar 035CityofGlendale 036CityofHemet 037CityofHighland 038CityofIrvine 039CityofLaCanadaFlintridge 040


CityofLaHabra 041CityofLakeForest 042CityofLosAngeles 043CityofNewportBeach 044CityofOntario 045CityofOxnard 046CityofPalmdale 047CityofPasadena 048CityofPicoRivera 049CityofRanchoSantaMargarita 050CityofRiverside 051CityofSanClemente 052CityofSanJacinto 053CityofSantaAna 054CityofSantaClarita 055,056CityofSouthPasadena 057,058CityofStanton 059CityofThousandOaks,PublicWorks/Transit 060CityofTustin 061CountyofOrange 068Supervisor,FirstDistrict,CountyofVentura 157AssociationofLocalAgencies AssociationofCaliforniaCitiesOrangeCounty 008CenterforDemographicResearch 024FourCornersCoalition 073OrangeCounty(multipleagencies) 107

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OtherImplementingAgencies BurbankGlendalePasadenaAirportAuthority 014CaliforniaDepartmentofTransportation 017DesertXpressEnterprises,LLC 069LosAngelesWorldAirports 097MarchJointPowersAuthority 098OrangelineDevelopmentAuthority 114PortofLongBeach 117,118RiversideTransitAgency 129SouthernCaliforniaRegionalRailAuthority 153TransportationCorridorAgencies 164OtherGovernmentAgencies CaliforniaDepartmentofParksandRecreation 015CaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealth 016CountyofLosAngelesBoardofSupervisors 066CountyofLosAngelesDepartmentofPublicHealth 067EnvironmentalProtectionAgency 072Governor'sOfficeofPlanningandResearch 078LosAngelesCountyDepartmentofPublicHealth 092LosAngelesCountyDepartmentofRegionalPlanning 093PasadenaChamberofCommerce 115ReservationTransportationAuthority 123RiversideCountyDepartmentofPublicHealth 124RiversideCountyPlanningDepartment 125SanManuelBandofMissionIndians 139SouthCoastAirQualityManagementDistrict 144VenturaCountyAirPollutionControlDistrict 173NonGovernmentalGroups AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty 001,002AmericanLungAssociation 003,004AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers 005


AmeronInternationalCorporationWaterTransmissionGroup 006

AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia 009BREATHELA 010BrooksStreet 011BuildingIndustryAssociationofSouthernCalifornia 012,013CaliforniaEnvironmentalAssociates 018CaliforniaNaturalGasVehicleCoalition 019CaliforniaRuralLegalAssistance,Inc. 020CaliforniaTruckingAssociation 021CanyonLandConservationFund 022CentennialCalifornia 023CitizensAllianceforPropertyRights 025CitizensAllianceforPropertyRights,VenturaCounty 026CleanAirNow 062CleanEnergy 063ClimatePlan 064downeygreen 070Editor,ElToroInfoSite 071FriendsofCoyoteHills 074FriendsofHarbors,Beaches,andParks 075GlobalLandUseandEconomicCouncil 077GRID/ECSTCSystems 079HighgroveAreaRedevelopment 080,081HillsForEveryone 082HumanImpactPartners 083ImperialCountyAirPollutionControlDistrict 084KohlRanchCompanyLLC 085LA32NeighborhoodCouncil 086LA32NeighborhoodCouncilandNELACoalition 087LatinoHealthAccess 088LosAngelesAllianceforaNewEconomy 089

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LosAngelesCountyBicycleCoalition 090LosAngelesCountyBusinessFederation 091Mobility21 099MoveLA 100,101NAIOP 102NaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil 103,104NO710ActionCommittee 105,106OrangeCountyBusinessCouncil 108OrangeCountyRenewableEnergySociety 110PhysiciansforSocialResponsibility,andOtherOrganizations(collaborativeletter) 116

PuenteChinoHillsTaskForceoftheSierraClub 119RealtorsCommitteeonAirQuality 120RegentProperties 121RegionalHispanicChamberofCommerce 122SafeRoutestoSchoolNationalPartnership 130,131,132SanFernandoValleyGreenTeam 135SanGabrielValleyEconomicPartnership 137SanGorgonioSierraClub 138SantaMonicaMountainsConservancy 140SiembabCorporation 141SierraClub 142SouthernCaliforniaAssociationofNonProfitHousing 145SouthernCaliforniaBusinessCommunity 146SouthernCaliforniaContractorsAssociation 147SouthernCaliforniaContractorsAssociation,Inc. 148SouthernCaliforniaEdison 149SouthernCaliforniaGasCompany 150SouthernCaliforniaLeadershipCouncil 151,152StephenWRogersP.E.Consulting 154,155,156TheAmericanInstituteofArchitects 158,159


TheCenterforCommunityActionandEnvironmentalJustice 160

TheKennedyCommission 161TheTransitCoalition 162TransitCoalition 163Trustee,SanBernardinoCommunityCollegeDistrict 165,166,167,168UnitarianUniversalistLegislativeMinistry 169UrbanandEnvironmentalPolicyInstituteOccidentalCollege 170

ValleyIndustryandCommerceAssociation 171VCCool+VenturaBicycleUnion 172VenturaCountyClimateCareOptionsOrganizedLocally 174WesternStatesPetroleumAssociation 175WildlifeCorridorConservationAuthority 176WRAC 177NoAffiliation/Individuals NoAffiliation/Individuals 176through303

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ID Name Affiliation Comment Response

00101 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthyOrangeCounty

Weareaneworganizationandwearesupportive ofthisPlan,butwewantyoutounderstandtheimportancethatthishasinimpactingthehealthofOrangeCounty,particularlyinreducingtheobesityrate.WehopethatthePlanwillhighlightthehealthimpactthatthiskindofdevelopmentcanhave.Wewanttoworkwiththecitiestohelpthemimplementthestrategies,andhelpthemseehowwecangetcitiestoworktogethertoimplementmorecompletestreets,morewalkablecommunitiesbecausewebelieveitwillimprovethehealthofthecommunity.

Commentnoted.SCAGiscommittedtoworkingwithlocaljurisdictionsintheirdevelopment,implementation,andmaintenanceoflocalactivetransportationplans;thisincludesencouragingtheadoptionofCompleteStreetspolicies.


TheAllianceurgesSCAGtoconsidertheimportanthealthimpactsoftheRTPandplaceincreasedemphasisonprojectsthatwillpromoteactivetransportation.Theregiondoesnotneedaplanthatallocates$22billiononroadwideningandonly$6billiononactivetransportation.Itiscriticaltochangefundingallocationstoimprovesafetyandpublichealththroughoutourregion.

Commentnoted.The20122035RTP/SCSallocatesapproximately$6.7billiontowardsActiveTransportationinvestments.Inresponsetotheoverallfeedbackwehavereceivedandbasedonfinalreconciliationofourfinanceplan,staffispleasedtonotethatthefundingforActiveTransportationhasactuallybeenincreasedby$700millionovertheDraftRTP/SCSthatwasreleasedforpublicreviewandcomment.Thisrepresentsanincreaseofmorethan270%overthecommitmentsmadeinthe2008RTP.Furthermore,thisdoesnotaccountfortheestimated$4.1billion,webelievethelocaljurisdictionswillbespendingonActivetransportationovertheplanperiodbasedontheircurrentexpenditurepattern.StaffwillcontinuetoevaluatingfundingforActiveTransportationandpursuenewfundingsourcesinfutureRTPupdates.


WerequestthatSCAGamendtheDraftRTP/SCStoincludethefollowing:1.IncreasetheoverallpercentageofRTPfundsdedicatedtoactivetransportationfrom1.3percentofthe2012RTPto58percentofthetotal2012plan.



2.Prioritizeactivetransportationfundinganddistributethesefundsevenlyoverthe25yearperiodoftheplansothatthebenefitsofactivetransportationarebroughttoOrangeCounty

Commentnoted.SCAGcannotunilaterallychangetheneartermcommitmentsthatarealreadyinplace.Significantincreaseinfundingforactivetransportationproposedinthe2012RTP/SCS

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sooner. islargelypredicatedonadditionalrevenuesfromnewsourcesthatwillrequirefutureactionsatthestateand/orfederallevels.Therefore,theplanrealisticallyassumesthatthesefundswillnotbeavailableinthenearterm.Theearliestthesefundsareexpectedtobeavailableis2026.


3.IncorporatethedevelopmentofanActiveTransportationFinanceStrategicPlanby2014thatidentifieshoweachCTCisspendingfundsandtheopportunitiesavailabletoincreasefundingforactivetransportation.

Commentnoted.


4.Allocatefundingforbicycleandpedestrianplanningandusagecounts.

Commentnoted.SCAGhasidentifiedthatimproveddatacollectionregardingpedestrianandbicycletripcharacteristics,facilityconditions,andinjuriesandfatalitiesisnecessarytodevelopaclearunderstandingofactivetransportationconditions.SCAGacknowledgesthatthisdatacollectionisnecessarytoimprovedecisionmakers'understandingofthedeficienciesandneedswithintheexistingactivetransportationsystem.


5.SetasidefundingintheRTPtosupportSCAGcitiesindevelopingbicycleandpedestrianmasterplans,saferoutestoschoolplansandADAtransitionplans.Establishagoalthat50%ofSCAGcitiesshalldeveloptheseplansby2016.

Commentnoted.SCAGiscommittedtoworkwithlocaljurisdictionsinthedevelopment,implementation,andmaintenanceoflocalactivetransportationplans;thisincludestheincorporationofBicyclePlans,PedestrianSafetyActionPlans,SafeRoutestoSchoolpolicies,andADAcompliance.


6.AdoptaRegionalCompleteStreetsby2014:Thisplanwillincorporateinputfromlocaljurisdictionstoprioritizecompletestreetsprojectsinprogrammingeffortsanddedicateaportionofsystempreservationandmaintenancefundingforimprovingtheroadconditionsofallusers.

Commentnoted.SCAGiscommittedtoworkingwithlocaljurisdictionsintheirdevelopment,implementation,andmaintenanceoflocalactivetransportationplansandpolicies,includingCompleteStreetspolicies.


7.AdoptSafeRoutestoSchoolregionalStrategicPlanby2014 Commentnoted.TheActiveTransportationAppendixincludesGoal3:IncreaseActiveTransportationUsageintheSCAGRegionbyCommentnoted.AdoptingaSafeRoutestoSchoolPolicy.SCAGiscommittedtoworkingwithlocaljurisdictionsintheirdevelopment,implementation,andmaintenanceoflocalactivetransportationplansandpolicies,SafeRoutestoSchoolpolicies.


8.SchoolSitingandJointUsePoliciesshouldbeincorporatedaslanduseelementsoftheSCS.

Commentnoted.The20122035RTP/SCShasbeenupdatedtoaddresscomment,asappropriate.

00210 BarryRoss AllianceforaHealthy

9.Setmeasurablesafetyandhealthgoalsforallusers:Goalsaresetforthereductionofgreenhousegasesinthedraft2012

Commentnoted.SCAGsTransportationSafetyChaptersetsforthgoalstoreducetransportationrelatedfatalitiesin

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OrangeCounty RTP/SCS.Activetransportationplaysapivotalroleinthereductionofthesegreenhousegases.Similarmeasurablegoalsshouldbesetforreducingcrashratesforactivetransportationandforreducingthehealthimpactsofobesity.Thesecouldincludeareportonthenumberofchildrenwalkingandbicyclingtoschoolacrosstheentireregionaswellasareportdetailingaccesstoparks,openspacesandqualityactivetransportationnetworks.

absolutenumbers.ForBicycling,reducethenumberofbicycleroadwayfatalitiesby25percentlessfromtheir2000level.Thegoalistoalsoreducepedestrianfatalitiesby25percentlessfromtheir2000number.


10.Monitoringdetailedpopulationdataandmetricsinenvironmentaljusticecommunities.

Commentnoted.ArobustenvironmentaljusticeanalysishasbeencompletedandisincludedintheRTP/SCSEnvironmentalJusticeAppendix.SCAGwillcontinuetoevaluateandmonitorenvironmentaljusticeimpactsataregionalscale.


Thelackofactivetransportaitonfundingdisproportionallyaffectsimmigrant,lowerincome,andminoritypopulationsbecausetheseneighborhoodshavegreaterbarrierstophysicalactivityandtransitaccess,highernumbersofbusyregionalarterial,poorpedestrianandbicycleinfrastructure,unsafeneighborhoods,andlackofsafestorageforbicyclesandsafecrossings.thus,theseneighborhoodswouldbenefitfromanincreaseinfundingallocations(inorderforSCAGtomeetitsTitleVIobligations)andfromadetailedstrategicplan.



CompliancewiththeSCSrequirementofSB375andthewellbeing,safety,andhealthofcitizenswithintheSCAGregionwilldependonthefuturedevelopmentofourmultimodaltransportationnetwork,jobs,housing,educationandhealthyenvironmentsforfamiliestolivein.

Commentnoted.

00301 JennyBaird AmericanLungAssociation

Increaseactivetransportationinvestmentstomorethan$12billionayear.WhileweappreciatetheincreaseinactivetransportationfundingincludedinthedraftSCS,webelievemorefundingisneeded.ArecentstudybytheLosAngelesCountyofPublicHealthestimatedthatupto$40billioncouldbeneededtobuildoutallofthecurrentbicycleandpedestrianprojectsinLosAngelesCountyalone.SCAG,incoordinationwithhealthdepartmentsandorganizations,shouldconductacomprehensiveneedsassessmentfortheSouthernCalifornia

Commentnoted.The20122035RTP/SCSallocatesapproximately$6.7billiontowardsActiveTransportationinvestments.Inresponsetotheoverallfeedbackwehavereceivedandbasedonfinalreconciliationofourfinanceplan,staffispleasedtonotethatthefundingforActiveTransportationhasactuallybeenincreasedby$700millionovertheDraftRTP/SCSthatwasreleasedforpublicreviewandcomment.Thisrepresentsanincreaseofmorethan270%overthecommitmentsmadeinthe2008RTP.Furthermore,thisdoes

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regiontodeterminetheinfrastructureneedstodevelopanetworkofbicycleandpedestrianpathwaysandtransitconnections.AnalysisisalsoneededofhowSCAGsbicycleandpedestrianpercapitainvestmentcompareswithotherregions.

not accountfortheestimated$4.1billion,webelievethelocaljurisdictionswillbespendingonActivetransportationovertheplanperiodbasedontheircurrentexpenditurepattern.StaffwillcontinuetoevaluatingfundingforActiveTransportationandpursuenewfundingsourcesinfutureRTPupdates.


ImproveAssessmentofhealthbenefitsthroughnewmodelingapproaches.UtilizethenewCaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealthITHIMscreeningtooltoanalyzethepotentialchronicdiseasereductionsthatcanbeachievedintheSCAGregionbasedonincreasedtransportationrelatedphysicalactivitysuchaswalkingandbiking.ThismodelwasusedintheSanFranciscoBayArearegiontodeterminereductionsinheartandrespiratorydisease,breastcancerandotherhealtheffectslinkedtoactivetransportationscenarios.WeurgeSCAGtoincorporatethistoolinregionalplanninganddecisionmakingfortransportationinvestments.

Comment noted.AsascenarioplanningtooltheRapidFiremodelwasusedtocalculatethepublichealthimpactsofautomobiletransportationrelatedairpollutionduringthescenarioplanningprocess.Thenumberofhealthincidences,andtheirrelatedcosts,arecalculatedonthebasisofcriteriaairpollutantemissions(measuredintons).WelookforwardtoworkingwiththeAmericanLungAssociationtounderstandtheITHIMscreeningtoolanditsapplicabilitytofutureSCAGplans.


Includetheattachedlistof13healthandequitymetricsintheSCSandmonitorovertime,includingexpandedpublichealthtargets.Inadditiontomonitoringprematuremortality,SCAGshouldalsoassessreductionsinasthmaincidenceandexacerbationsduetotrafficrelatedpollution(NOX)andothertargetsthroughcollaborationwithlocalhealthdepartments,theSouthCoastAirQualityManagementDistrict,academicresearchersandcommunitybasedorganizations.Improvementstothetargetsshouldbemonitoredandreportedtothepubliceverytwoyears.AdditionalcommentsonthetargetsalreadyincludedbySCAGintheSCSwillbesentinaseparatecommentletter.

Commentnoted.TheperformancemetricsweredevelopedwithextensiveinputfromSCAGstakeholdersandleadership.TheDraftPEIRincludesamobilesourcehealthriskassessmentinAppendixF.TheanalysisassessedatleastonefreewaycorridorineachofthesixcountiescontainedintheSCAGplanningarea.WelookforwardtoworkingwiththeAmericanLungAssociationonfutureeffortstomonitorperformance.SCAGisinterestedincontinuingtoassesshealthoutcomesbeyondtheRTP.


Focusinvestmentsoncompletingtransitsystemsandbuildingouttransitinfrastructure,ratherthanhighwayexpansion,includingthefollowing:.oDoublingMetrolinkridershipby2020anddoubleitagainby2035oExpandingBusRapidTransitandregionalbusserviceoEnhancingTODplanningand1stmilelastmileinvestmentsnearMetrolinkstationsoDoublingthebicyclenetworkto24,000milesandimprovingpedestrianenvironment

Commentnoted.The2012RTP/SCScontainsthreenewcommuterraillines,sixnewrapidbuslines,andanexpansionofpointtopointexpressbusservice.Theplanforecastsa338%riseincommuterrailboardingsbetween2001and2035.Landusepolicyaroundtransitstationsandamenitiesfallundertheauthorityofthelocalgoverningjurisdiction,whichmightbeaCityorCounty,dependingonincorporation.However,SCAGpartnerswithCitiesandotherjurisdictionstodolandusevisionexercisesthroughtheCompassBlueprintDemonstrationProgram.Thisprogramprovidesamixofconsultantservices,SCAGstafftime,financialresources,andtechnicalassistancetolocalcities,counties,SCAGsubregions,andcounty

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transportationcommissionstohelplinklanduseandtransportationplanning.


Increasetransitandtransitorientedplanningin InlandEmpire.BecausesomuchoftheplannedgrowthintheInlandEmpireisrelativelylowdensityandremotefromtransit,SCAGshouldworkcloselywithInlandEmpiregovernmentstoaccelerateexpansionandfrequencyoftransitandrailtotheareaandfocusmoregrowtharoundtransitcorridors.ArecenthealthforumhostedbytheAmericanLungAssociationinCaliforniainRiversidehighlightedthedramaticratesofrespiratoryillness,heartdiseaseandobesityintheregionassociatedwithpoorlanduseandsprawldevelopment.

Commentnoted.Commentednoted.The2012RTP/SCScontainsthreenewcommuterraillines,sixnewrapidbuslines,andanexpansionofpointtopointexpressbusservice.Landusepolicyaroundtransitstationsandamenitiesfallundertheauthorityofthelocalgoverningjurisdiction,whichmightbeacityorCounty,dependingonincorporation.However,SCAGpartnerswithcitiestodolandusevisionexercisesthroughtheCompassBlueprintDemonstrationProgram.Thisprogramprovidesamixofconsultantservices,SCAGstafftime,financialresources,andtechnicalassistancetolocalcities,counties,SCAGSubregions,andCountyTransportationCommissionstohelplinklanduseandtransportationplanning.


Frontloadactivetransportationfunding.SCAGshouldcommittoahigheramountoftransportationfundingforbikeandpedestrianinfrastructure,especiallyintheearlyyearsofthe25yearRTPprocess.SCAGshouldworkwithlocaltransportationagenciestoprioritizebicycleandpedestrianprojectsandensurethemajorityoffundsarespentpriorto2020.

Commentnoted.ThedistributionoffundingfordifferenttransportationinvestmentsintheRTPreflectslocaloptionsalestaxmeasurecommitmentsapprovedbyvoters,countytransportationcommissionadoptedlongrangetransportationplans,limitationsassociatedwithspecificrevenuessources,andotherpreviouscommitments.


Increaseinvestmentsinzeroemissionfreighttransportationinordertoreducedieselemissionsandexposuresincommunitiesnearfreightcorridorsandrailyards.Ensurethatfundingmechanismsareinplacetoexpeditetheimplementationofthezeroandnearzeroemissionfreightandtruckstrategiesandinfrastructure.Prioritizespendingonprojectsthatdelivermaximumhealthbenefitsforresidentsoftheregion,especiallythoselivingalongfreewaysandfreightcorridors.

Commentnoted.EmissionsfromgoodsmovementactivitiesareasignificantconcernfortheSCAGregion.Theregionaltrucklanesystemidentifiedinthe2012RTPisenvisionedtobeafacilityusedbyzeroemissiontrucks.Thissystemalsoofferstheopportunitytoincentivizetheadoptionofclean,zeroemissiontechnologiesforregionalfreightmovement.SCAGalsocontinuestosupporteffortsbyregionalpartnersandstakeholderstoaddressgoodsmovementemissionsandimpactsoncommunitiessuchastheSanPedroBayPortsCleanAirActionPlan.SCAGalsosupportstheimplementationofallfreightprojectslistedinthe2012RTPandcontinuestoworkcloselywithregionalimplementationagenciestoadvancetheircompletion.Further,the2012RTPincludesanEnvironmentalActionPlanthatwillleadtothedeploymentofzeroemissiontechnologiesinthetimeframenecessarytomeetfederalrequirements.


EvaluatethenumberandtypeofnewdevelopmentsthatcouldbelocatedincloseproximitytofreewaysandhightrafficroadwaysintheSCAGregionunderthenewRTPandpotentialpollutionexposures.TheEnvironmentalJusticeAppendixtothe

Commentnoted.DataandanalysisincludedintheEnvironmentalJusticeAppendixdoesnotaccountforPlanimprovementsinvehicletechnologyparticularlyfortruckonlycorridors.ThesecorridorsinthePlanareexclusivelyforzero

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Planshowsthatapproximately25% 27%ofhouseholdslivingwithin500feetoffreewayscouldfacegreaterexposurestoCOandPMthanunderthebasecase,withhighconcentrationsofminorityandlowincomeresidentsdisproportionatelyaffected.Workwithairdistrict,healthdepartmentsanduniversitiestodevelopandimplementbestpracticepoliciesfordevelopmentslocatednearheavytrafficareastoreduceexposurestoairpollution.

and/ornearzeroemissionvehicles.Furthermore,theProgramEnvironmentalImpactReport(PEIR)accompanyingtheRTP/SCSincludesmitigationmeasuresthatwouldreduceimpactsassociatedwithhealthriskwithin500feetoffreewaysandhightrafficvolumeroadwaystolessthansignificant.AnalysisincludedintheAppendixalsodoesnotaccountforemissionsimprovementsthroughtheimplementationofthesemitigationmeasures.Assuch,emissionsandexposureanalysisshowninthisAppendixisabundantlyconservativeanddemonstratesworstcasescenariooutcomes.Iftheseemissionsimprovementshadbeenaccountedfor,webelievetheanalysiswouldshowlittleornoareaswithworsenedemissions(hotspots)associatedwiththePlan.Moreover,thecurrentlyavailabledataonemissionsandonthedistributionofhouseholdsandpopulationisimprecisesuchthattheoverlaywithemissionsandEJpopulationswilltendtooverstateanypotentialimpacts.Nevertheless,givenongoingconcernsandevolvinginformationonhealthimpacts,SCAGencouragesprojectsponsorstobecognizantofanypotentialhealthrisksinprojectdesignanddelivery.ConsistentwiththemitigationidentifiedandtobeimplementedaspartoftheproposedfinalPEIR,SCAGwillassistindisseminatinginformationandidentifyingeffectivestrategiestoreduceriskattheprojectlevel.

00401 TerryRoberts AmericanLungAssociation

TheSouthernCaliforniaAssociationofGovernments(SCAG)SustainableCommunitiesStrategyoffersatransformativeopportunitytoreduceunhealthyvehicleemissionswhilepromotinghealthier,moreactiveneighborhoodswithreducedratesofchronicdiseaseandprematuredeath.

Commentnoted.


HealthprofessionalssupportstrengtheningtheSustainableCommunitiesStrategytoimprovehealthoutcomesfromhealthylanduseandtransportationplanningwiththefollowingrecommendations:Increaseactivetransportationinvestmentstomorethan$10billionayear.ArecentstudybytheLosAngelesCountyofPublicHealthestimatedthat$40billionwouldbeneededtobuildoutallofthecurrentbicycleandpedestrianprojectsinLosAngelesCountyalone.AnalysisneededofhowSCAGsbicycleandpedestrianpercapitainvestmentcompareswithotherregions.

Commentnoted.The20122035RTP/SCSallocatesapproximately$6.7billiontowardsActiveTransportationinvestments.Inresponsetotheoverallfeedbackwehavereceivedandbasedonfinalreconciliationofourfinanceplan,staffispleasedtonotethatthefundingforActiveTransportationhasactuallybeenincreasedby$700millionovertheDraftRTP/SCSthatwasreleasedforpublicreviewandcomment.Thisrepresentsanincreaseofmorethan270%overthecommitmentsmadeinthe2008RTP.Furthermore,thisdoesnotaccountfortheestimated$4.1billion,webelievethelocaljurisdictionswillbespendingonActivetransportationoverthe

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planperiodbasedontheircurrentexpenditurepattern. StaffwillcontinuetoevaluatingfundingforActiveTransportationandpursuenewfundingsourcesinfutureRTPupdates.


Assesshealthbenefitsthroughnewmodelingapproaches:UtilizethenewCaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealthscreeningtooltoanalyzethepotentialchronicdiseasereductionsintheSCAGregionfromincreasedphysicalactivitysuchaswalkingandbikingandcompletethisinformationassoonaspossible.

Commentnoted.Asascenarioplanningtool,theRapidFiremodelwasusedtocalculatethepublichealthimpactsofautomobiletransportationrelatedairpollutionduringthescenarioplanningprocess.Thenumberofhealthincidences,andtheirrelatedcosts,arecalculatedonthebasisofcriteriaairpollutantemissions(measuredintons).WelookforwardtoworkingwiththeAmericanLungAssociationtounderstandtheITHIMscreeningtoolanditsapplicabilitytofutureSCAGplans.


BroadenthelistofpublichealthtargetsfortheSCStoincludereductionsinairpollutionrelatedhealthimpacts,includingprematuremortalityandasthmaexacerbations.Workwithpublichealthagenciestodevelopotherpublichealthtargets.

Commentnoted.TheperformancemetricsweredevelopedwithextensiveinputfromSCAGstakeholdersandleadership.WelookforwardtoworkingwiththeAmericanLungAssociationonfutureeffortstomonitorperformance.


Focusinvestmentsoncompletingtransitsystemsandbuildingouttransitinfrastructure,ratherthanhighwayexpansion.oDoublingMetrolinkridershipby2020anddoubleitagainby2035oExpandingBusRapidTransitandregionalbusserviceoEnhancingTODplanningand1stmilelastmileinvestmentsnearMetrolinkstationsoDoublingthebicyclenetworkto24,000milesandimprovingpedestrianenvironment

Commentnoted.TheRTPincludesasignificantexpansionofrailserviceincludingMetrolinkandCaliforniaHighSpeedRail.ItalsoincludesanexpansionofBRTandexpressbusservices,increasedfrequenciesoflocalfixedroutebus,andasignificantincreaseinfundingforbicycleandpedestrianfacilities.


Frontloadactivetransportationfunding,includingtransit,sothatprojectsarecompletedearlyinthe25yearRTPprocess.

Commentnoted.SCAGcannotunilaterallychangetheneartermcommitmentsthatarealreadyinplace.Significantincreaseinfundingforactivetransportationproposedinthe2012RTP/SCSislargelypredicatedonadditionalrevenuesfromnewsourcesthatwillrequirefutureactionsatthestateand/orfederallevels.Therefore,theplanrealisticallyassumesthatthesefundswillnotbeavailableinthenearterm.Theearliestthesefundsareexpectedtobeavailableis2026.


Increaseinvestmentsinzeroemissionfreighttransportationinordertoreducedieselemissionsandexposuresincommunitiesnearfreightcorridorsandrailyards.

Commentnoted.EmissionsfromgoodsmovementactivitiesareasignificantconcernfortheSCAGregion.Theregionaltrucklanesystemidentifiedinthe2012RTPisenvisionedtobeafacilityusedbyzeroemissiontrucks.Thissystemalsoofferstheopportunitytoincentivizetheadoptionofclean,zeroemissiontechnologiesforregionalfreightmovement.SCAGalsocontinuestosupporteffortsbyregionalpartnersandstakeholderstoaddressgoodsmovementemissionsandimpactsoncommunitiessuchastheSanPedroBayPortsCleanAirActionPlan.SCAGalsosupportstheimplementationofall

15


freightprojectslistedinthe2012RTPandcontinuestoworkcloselywithregionalimplementationagenciestoadvancetheircompletion.Further,the2012RTPincludesanEnvironmentalActionPlanthatwillleadtothedeploymentofzeroemissiontechnologiesinthetimeframenecessarytomeetfederalrequirements.


EvaluatethenumberandtypeofnewdevelopmentsthatcouldbelocatedincloseproximitytofreewaysandhightrafficroadwaysintheSCAGregionunderthenewRTP.Workwithairdistrict,healthdepartmentsanduniversitiestodevelopbestpracticepoliciesfordevelopmentslocatednearheavytrafficareastoreduceexposurestoairpollution.

Commentnoted.PleaseseeTable43onPage121intheDraftEnvironmentalJusticeAppendixforhouseholdandjobgrowthintheHighQualityTransitAreas(HQTA)thatarealsoincloseproximitytofreewaysandhightrafficroadwaysunderRTP.

00501 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers

TheSouthernCaliforniaAssociationofGovernments(SCAG)2012RegionalTransportationPlan(Plan)isanexcellentplanningdocumentbasedon2005technology.Itlacksonlyanupdateforthedigitaltechnologyof2010andaninfusionofhopeamidthemanychallenges.YoucanaccomplishthatupdatebyinsertingtheArialfonttextattheappropriatelocationsinthePlan.AnytextnotinArialfontissupportinglogicanddocumentation.SCAGmaychoosetoinsertthenonArialfontoruseittoprepareanalternaterevenueexpensemodel.

Commentnoted.


SCAGisasufficientlylargeeconomytodrivemoreapplicationsofdigitaltechnologyfortransportationsafetyandconvenience.IfSCAGdoesnotdrivedigitalapplications,thedigitalapplicationswilldriveSCAG.Forexample:Inresponsetoyouthsurveys,GeneralMotorsisapplyingdigitaltechnology.Forexample;smallselfdrivingtaxisandcarswhichwillparkthemselvesamileormorefromtheirpassengerdropofforpickuplocations.Todaystechsavvy015yearoldswillbethetransportationconsumersresponding(ornot)toSCAGsTransportationDemandManagement(TDM)asthe1838yearoldsof2030.Driversareevermoredistractedbytheirdigitaldevices,somuchsotheNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationrecommendsbanningalluseofdigitaldevices,evenhandsfreephones.Increasinglydistracteddriversaremorelikelytokillpedestriansandbicyclists,withmoreadverseimpactsonTDMandsafety.Pedestriansandbicyclistsaredistractedreadingtheirdigitaldeviceandoblivioustooutsidesoundswearingearphones.Asof2009,anyonewithasmart

Commentnoted.

16


phonehadaccesstorealtime(andverydistracting)visualindicationsoftrafficconditionsontheiralternateroutes.TheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers,LosAngelesSection,SustainabilityCommitteeencouragesSCAGtodrivedigitalapplicationsfortransportationbecausedigitalapplicationsallowtremendousimprovementsinmobility,safety,andairqualitywithrelativelylittleuseoftheEarthsnaturalresources.Further,motorvehiclesmanufacturersareimplementingdigitalapplicationsinanuncoordinatedfashionmotivatedtosellmorevehicles:adaptivecruisecontrol,stabilitycontrol,selfparking,voicerecognition,collisionwarning,GeneralMotorsOnStar,etc.Whilethesesystemshelpprotectthevehicleoccupants,theyarelikelytoincreasetherateofbicyclistandpedestriandeathsabove21%.Ourcommitteeincludesregularbicyclecommuterswhooftengetunsolicitedcommentsaboutthedangersinvolved.Itwouldseemtheperceptionofdangerisdiscouragingbicycleandpedestriantransportation.Itfollowsthatanincreaseinperceivedsafetyisessentialforincreasingactivetransportation.


AftertheMobility,Safety,AirQuality,andFinancialChallengesofExecutiveSummarypages2and3,add:DIGITALOPPORTUNITIESOurelectronicsystemscontinuetoimproveinreliability,performance,andcost.2035isasfarinthefutureas1986isinthepast.In1986,mobilephoneswerethesizeofsmallvacuumcleanersandantilockbrakeswerestandardonafewluxurycars.Personalcomputerswerethesizeofadeskdrawerwiththepowertohandlewordprocessingandsimplespreadsheets.In2010,smartphonesaresmallerthanadeckofcards,areatenththecostofa1986personalcomputer,andpossessthepowerofa1986supercomputer.Fulldrivebywirestabilitycontrolsystemsarestandardonmostcars.Theglobalpositioningsystem(GPS)wasnotfullyoperationalwithcivilianaccuracyofabout30feetuntil1994.In2010,smartphoneshaveGPSwhichcanbeintegratedwiththesmartphonesaccelerometersforprecisionofafewinchesathighwayspeeds.Ourvisionincludespushingtheconnectivityandcomputingpowerof2010toaddressthetransportationchallengesof2020,2030,andbeyond.

Commentnoted.Thedevelopmentofautomatedvehiclesisproceedingrapidly,butisstillinapreliminaryphase,andwillbeexaminedinfutureplans.

00504 MarkCapron AmericanSocietyofCivil

AttheendoftheFinancialPlanExecutiveSummarypages7and8,add:REDUCEDINSURANCECOSTSDriversandbusinessesin

Commentnoted.

17


Engineers theSCAGregionpaidabout$25billionin2010forvehicleinsurance.Bypushingdigitalsystemstoaddresstransportationsafetychallenges,SCAGcandecreasecollisionsfromabout83,000peryearin2010tolessthan500peryearin2035.Digitalsystemswouldsavedriversandbusinessesabout$240billiononinsurancepremiumsoverthetwentyyearsbetween2015and2035.Also,bypushingdigitalsystemstoaddresstransportationmobilitychallenges,SCAGcanreducetheregionalpersonhoursoftrafficdelaybelow1millionhoursperyear.TheinsuranceandtimesavingsmorethanjustifytheincreasedgastaxandmileagebaseduserfeesuggestedinTable2withdirectlyoffsettingsavingsfordriversandbusiness.


Changethetitleandaddthefollowingtopages27and28:INTEGRATEDLANDUSEANDDIGITALLYENHANCEDTRANSPORTATIONDigitallyenhancedtransportationistheapplicationoftechnologyallowing:Transituserstokeepshopping,working,orplayinguntiltheyreceiveanalarmthattheyhavejustenoughtimetogettothebusstop.Busdriverstovarytheirroutesandstopsinrealtimetooptimizeservice,revenue,andexpense.Citiestoorganizeallthepossibleparkingspots(street,schools,churches,business,andindividualresidences)forpublicprivatecoordinatedtimeofuseandmembershipbasedtollsandspacesharing.Privatedriversandpassengerstoshareridesontheflyasadecentralizedneighborhelpingneighborformoftransit.Pedestriansandbicycliststobeprotectedfrommotorvehiclesbyavirtualforcefieldusinga$50devicewhichinformsmotorvehiclesoftheirlocation,velocity,andaccelerations.Thesamedevicecanoffertipsonsafebicyclingandsafewalking.Motorvehiclestobeprotectedbythesamevirtualforcefield.Thevirtualforcefieldnotonlypreventsaccidents,itnegatestheperceivedsafetyoflargervehicles.Moregamificationintrafficmanagement,suchasspeedcameralottery.Safelydoublingroadcapacitywhilemaintainingthespeedlimit(nocongestiondelays)byapplyingthesamevirtualforcefieldtomakevehiclessuperpolite.Rentalofbicycles,traditionalcars,orselfdrivingvehiclesbytheminute.Cargopoolingformail,hardcopymessages,tools,equipment,food,etc.

Commentnoted.


MotivationTheauthorsresearchfortheSantaBarbaraCommunity

Commentnoted.

18


Engineers EnvironmentalCouncilsFossilFreeby2033TransportationPlan(Freeby2033Plan)confirmedastrongpreferenceforconveniencewhenselectingtransportation.TheFreeby2033Plan22concludesincreasedridesharingcanreducevehiclemilesby20%muchquickerandlessexpensivelythancanincreaseduseoftraditionalpublictransit.Convenienceandcostfactorsstronglyfavorridesharing.ThesegeneralfactsfromtheLegislativeAnalystsOffice23concerningcarpoollanesconfirmaneedtoincreasetimesavingandconvenienceaspectsofpublictransportation:HighOccupancyVehicle(HOV)lanesareunderusedintheoffpeakdirectionorduringoffpeakhours,becausethereislittletimesavingsincentivetocarpoolwhentrafficisflowing.HOVlanesaremosteffectivewhentheyprovidetimesaving.HOVlanesdonotincreasecarpooling,unlessthereistrafficslowingcongestion.Thesummer2008highfuelcostsfollowedbythefall2008lowfuelcostsprovideapricebasedexample.Highfuelcostsincreasedbusandtrainridershipandpromptedcallsformoreconvenientbusesandtrains.AtleastinLosAngeles,newsummer2008ridersgenerallyabandonedbusesandtrainswhenfuelpricesdropped.Further,considerhowrapidlypeopleabandonbicycles,buses,andtrainswhentheycanbarelyaffordaprivatemotorvehicleindevelopingcountries.WitnesstheswitchawayfrombicyclesinChinaandIndia.


Allthisimpliesthattransitridingmustbecomeasconvenientassingleoccupancyvehiclesiftransitridingistoincreasesignificantly.Ratherthanallowingtrafficcongestiontodragontheeconomy,maketransitmoreconvenient.Thebesttransitridingincreasingstrategywillbesuperconvenient.Theinexpensivesuperconvenienceofdigitalapplicationsextendstolowincomepeopleunliketraditionalpublictransit(whichisnotconvenient)orsingleoccupancyvehicletolls(whichareexpensive).SCAGsimplementationofsmartphonetransitwouldmakeSCAGstransitsystemmoresophisticatedand21stCenturythanNewYork,SanFrancisco,LondonorParis.

Commentnoted.


SCAGmightpaythesmartphonetransitserviceafeetoobtainridershipdataforadjustingroutesandfarestominimizeboth

Commentnoted.

19


Engineers vehiclemilesandpassengermilesper gallon.00509 MarkCapron American

SocietyofCivilEngineers

SCAGcantriggerthesmartphonemarketsharerace,advertisetheprogram,andcontributetoeconomicopportunitywithcontestsandpromotions.$1millionwouldbuyabout5,000smartphoneswholesale.Thesmartphonescanberewardsforideacontests,studentessaycontests,orarecruitingcontest.Inarecruitingcontest,contestantssignupregularcustomersatregularcustomerrates.Thenewcustomerstransituseissummed(aggregatemannertoavoidprivacyissues)forthecontestperiod.Thecontestantswhosecustomersaccumulatedthemosttransitmileswinthesmartphonesandyearofservice.Thesummedmilescanbedisplayedonawebsitewithhourlyupdatestocreateexcitement.Notethatabusortaxidriverwithasmartphoneandtheservicecreatesaparticipatingbusortaxiwithautomaticpaymentoptionanddatatransfertotheagency.

Commentnoted.


Consideraddingtheparkingmetersasasmartphonefeaturegraduallystartingin2013.ThephoneswillneedmoreaccurateGPS,whichcanbeprovidedusinginertialnavigationtoimprovesatellitefixes,orbyprovidingmoreGPSchannelswithinthephone,orbyprovidingmoresatelliterepeaters.TheaccuratewithinayardphonewouldlinktothecitysGIS(geographicinformationsystem)wheneverthecarstopsinanymappedparkingspot.Ergo,thesmartphonebecomestheparkingmeter.

Commentnoted.


Backgroundinformationonzerocongestion,zerocollisionvehiclesMotorvehiclescanusedigitaltechnologytoavoidcrashingintoeachother.Commercialaircraftalreadyusethiselectronicstosafelyincreaselandingsandtakeoffsinlesstime.ItscalledtheAutomaticDependentSurveillanceBroadcastSystemandstartedcoordinating9,000helicopterflightsadayovertheGulfofMexicoinJanuary2010.Theelectronicsisrobustandkeepsgettingbetter.Forexample,theU.S.AirForceisdevelopingtinyquantummechanicaldevicesthatimproveyourcarkeepingtrackofitselfevenifitlosesitsGlobalPositioningSystemsignals.Electronicsiswaycheaperthancarinsurance.In2005,GeneralMotorsengineersestimated$200percartoupgradeOnStartozerocrash,zerocongestion.Ofcourse,mostothercarswouldhavetobesimilarlyoutfittedforthislowcostapproach.ExampleactionsAllow,beginning

Commentnoted.

20


January1,2013,singledrivercarswithzerocrashandzerocongestiontechnologytousecarpoollanes.Announcesuchtechnologywillberequiredforthefastlaneof3+lanefreewaysstartingJanuary1,2016.AnnouncesuchtechnologywillberequiredforallbuttheslowlaneofeveryfreewayinSCAGmemberjurisdictionsstartingJanuary1,2020.Announcealotterywhichbicyclistsandpedestriansenterbyloggingmileswiththeirzerocrashtechnologyequippedsmartphone,bicyclecomputer,orpedometer.

00601 RichardMueller

AmeronInternationalCorporationWaterTransmissionGroup

LadiesandGentlemen:ForthepasttwoyearsIhavebeeninvolvedwiththerefinementandpromotionofafreighttransportationconceptwecallGreenRailIntelligentDevelopment,orGRID.GRIDiscomposedofthreemajorcomponents,asfollows.1)ASuperDocktoprovidehighlyautomatedtransferofcontainerfreightdirectlybetweenshipsandtrains.TwotypesoftrainswouldbeservedbytheSuperDock,Class1trainsforBNSFandUnionPacifictotravelthroughtheAlamedaCorridor,anddronecontainertrainstoandfrompointsinsouthernCalifornia.2)Afreightpipeline,essentiallyatunnelforthedronetrainstotravelbetweenwarehousedistrictsintheLosAngelesregionandthePorts.3)Loading/unloadingterminalstofeedandreceivedronetrainsintoandfromthefreightpipeline/tunnel.TheseterminalswouldbestrategicallylocatednearconcentrationsofwarehousesindowntownLosAngeles,theCityofCommerce,RowlandHeights,andFontana.Thefreightpipelinewouldessentiallyprovideanunobtrusive,nearlynoisefree,electricallypoweredalternativetotheEastWestCorridorproposedintheRTP.InitialindicationsarethattheefficiencyoftheSuperDockandfreightpipelinesystemcouldgenerateasufficientcashflowforthesystemtopayforitselfusingcurrentfreightcostsandwithoutanytaxincreases.ThissystemhasreceivedaspecificendorsementfromtheAngelesChapteroftheSierraClub.IrecognizethereisinsufficienttimeforthestudyofGRIDthatwouldberequiredforGRIDtobeincludedasanalternativeinthecurrentRTP.However,assoonasthedraftRTPisfinalized,IencourageSCAGtoparticipateinaninvestigationofGRIDtodetermineitsviability.GRIDprovidesanopportunityforatrueparadigmshiftinfreighttransportationwithinsouthernCaliforniathatcouldsignificantlyreducehighwaycongestion

Commentnoted.Local,regional,andstatepartners,includingexpertsandstakeholdersfromboththepublicandprivatesectors,haveworkedcloselytogetherovermanyyearstoidentifyandimplementpotentialsolutionstothechallengesresultingfromfreightmovementinSouthernCalifornia.Theseeffortshaveincludedtheconsiderationofnumerousconcepts.Researchandanalysistodatehaveindicatedthataregionaltrucklanesystemusedbycleantrucks(i.e.,nearzeroandzeroemission)offersapromisingsolutiontoregionalfreightconcerns.Nevertheless,SCAGanticipatesfurtheranalysisofalignmentconceptsincludingevaluationofawiderangeoftechnologyoptionsforapplicationtosuchasystem.Alongwithtechnologyoptions,evaluationwouldbemadeaboutadequatelyaddressingmarketsegmentation,firstmile/lastmileissues,operationalfeasibility,collaborationwithregionalstakeholders(suchastheSanPedroBayPorts),andcostsamongothers.SCAGwillcontinueongoingcollaborationwithstakeholdersandtransportationintereststoidentifypotentialsolutionstoregionalfreightchallenges.

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andmakefreighttransportationtoandthroughsouthernCaliforniacompetitivewiththatanywhereintheworld.Sincerely,AmeronInternationalCorporationWaterTransmissionGroup

00701 AnnWilson ArroyoVerdugoSubregion

Pursuanttofederalregulations,projectsshouldnotbeincludedintheRTP/SCSconstrainedplan,whichhaveonlysecuredasmallportionoftherequiredfundingneededtocompletetheproject:TheRTP/SCS,accordingtofederalregulations,in"nonattainmentandmaintenanceareas,"must"addressthespecificfinancialstrategiesrequiredtoensuretheimplementationofprojectsandprogramstoreachairqualitycompliance".Projectswhichonlyhavesecuredasmallportionoftheneededfunding,andwhichrelyonspeculativefunding,suchaspotentialand/orpossibletollingauthority,shouldnotbeincludedintheRTP/SCS,sincethisinclusiondoesnotmeetthefederalrequirementsforafiscallyconstrainedplan.

Commentnoted.However,SCAGsanalysisanddocumentationofreasonablyavailablesourcesdemonstratesconsistencywithfederalrequirements.Thefulltextofthefederalrequirementscanbefoundin23CFR450.322.TheapplicablefederalregulationsclearlyindicateanRTPmeetsthefinancialconstraintrequirementbyincludingsufficientfinancialinformationfordemonstratingthatprojectsintheplancanbeimplementedusingcommitted,available,orreasonablyavailablerevenuesources,withreasonableassurancethatthefederallysupportedtransportationsystemisbeingadequatelyoperatedandmaintained.


LanguageshouldbeincludedintheRTP/SCSrequiringafullcost/benefitanalysisforallprojectsintheconstrainedplan:LanguageshouldbeincludedintheRTP/SCSthatclearlystatesthatafullcost/benefitanalysisshallbecompletedforeachprojectcontainedintheRTP/SCSconstrainedplan:

Commentnoted.SCAGwillcontinuetoworkwiththecountytransportationcommissionsandstakeholderstodevelopandrefineperformancemeasuresand,totheextentpracticable,conductprojectlevelperformanceassessmentsasappropriateandnecessary.


MajorhighwayexpansionprojectsshouldnotbefrontloadedintheRTP/SCS:TheRTP/SCSfrontloadshighwaymodalitiesbydisproportionatelyallocatingfundingandanticipatedcompletiondates.ThisisevidencedbycomparingTable2.2MajorHighwayCompletionProjectagainstTable2.5,MajorTransitProjects,inchapter2oftheRTP/SCS.Transitprojectsarebuiltinsegmentswiththefinalprojectnotbeingcompleteduntil20302035.ExpandinghighwaysinducesVMTandthereforefrontloadingmajorhighwaycompletionbeforetransitprojectsdoesnotcomplywiththetenetsofSB375andAB32toreducegreenhousegasemissionsbyreducingVMT.Additionallyitiswelldocumentedthatlandusesadjacenttofreewaysarepronetoincreasedtoxinswhichcausenegativehealthimpacts.AccordingtoSCAGstaff,highwayprojectsmaybemoreeasilyfinancedthantransitprojectsbyborrowingagainstfuturetollrevenues.Theystatethatthisisthereasonthehighwayprojectsarefrontloaded.Thisfinancialreasoningdoesnotjustifysacrificingenvironmentalconcernsbybuildingthehighwayprojectspriortotransitprojects.

Commentnoted.ThedistributionoffundingfordifferenttransportationinvestmentsintheRTPisaresultoflocaloptionsalestaxmeasurecommitmentsapprovedbyvoters,countytransportationcommissionadoptedlongrangetransportationplans,limitationsassociatedwithspecificrevenuessources,andotherpreviouscommitments.

22



Theterm"SR710GapClosure"usedintheplanshouldbesubstitutedwith"710NorthExtension":The"SR710GapClosure"language,alreadyusedinthe2008RTP,shouldbemodifiedtoconsistencywithMetro'sstatedintent,whichshouldservetoease,ifnoteliminatethecurrentpolarizinglanguage.Theshiftintitlefrom"710NortExtension"to"710GapClosure"isinvalid,sincethereisnogap.SR710terminatesatValleyBoulevard.Thereisnonortherlyextensiontoconnectto,sincetheportionofthe210interchangeincludingDelMarBoulevardwasbuiltconditioneduponthefactthatit"wouldhavenoeffectonthedecisionastotheultimatefreewaylocationandwillnotforeclosealternativestotheproposedultimate...Freeway."Thistitleseemstocreateasenseofinevitabilityorpriorityforthisprojectovercompetingonesandcannotbejustified.

Commentnoted.ReferencestotheSR710GapClosurehavebeenrevisedtoSR710NorthExtension(tunnel)(alignmentTBD).


SCAGassumptionsregardingthe"SR710GapClosure"projectproducingcongestionreliefandlowergreenhousegasemissionsareflawed,baseduponempiricalresearchonotherhighwayprojectsthathavebeenbuilt:ThePEIRstatesthat"ThePlanwouldincreaseVMTwhencomparedtoexistingconditions."(SCAGRTP/SCSPEIRp.3.225).Specifically,decreasingVMTisthegoalofSB375andshouldalsobethegoaloftheRTP/SCS.TheincreaseinVMTisthePlan'srelianceonfreewayexpansiontomeettheregion'smobilityneeds.Notably,theRTP/SCSdescribestheSR710tunnelasatunnelwith4lanesineachdirection.Thisisamajorhighwayexpansionbeingintroducedintotheregion.Totheextentthatthiscausesthewideningofotherfreeways(suchastheI210),itwillfurtherexpandthefreewaysystem.TheregionwouldbebetterservedwithanalternateprojectwhichisnothighwayorientedandwhichwouldpotentiallydecreaseVMT,ratherthanincreasingit.SCAGassumesthattheSR710extensionwillproducecongestionreliefandlowergreenhousegasemissions.Theseassumptionsarenotborneoutofrecentresearch,andthereareahostofotherpreviousstudiesshowingthatanincreaseinhighwaycapacityincreasesVMTandthatoncetheprojectisbuilt,congestion,withinafewyears,returns.TheseSCAGassumptionsareflawed.

Commentnoted.IncreaseintotalVMTin2035overthecurrentconditionisprimarilyduetoestimatedincreaseof4millionpeopleovertheplanperiod.However,VMTonapercapitabasiswilldecreaseoverthisperiodoncetheplanisfullyimplemented.WhilethePlandoesincludesomeneededhighwayimprovements,includingtheSR710NorthExtensionproject,thereisnoevidencethattheseimprovementswouldcontributetothetotalVMTincreaseinanydiscernibleway.The2012RTPidentifiesamultimodalstrategythatincorporatestransit,highway,andactivetransportationstrategiesaswellasdemandmanagementandcongestionpricingstrategiestoachieveoverallimprovedsystemperformanceandreductioninGHGtargetsrequiredunderSB375.

00706 AnnWilson ArroyoVerdugo

ThedefinitionoftheSR710gapclosureprojectfromoneprecisepointtoanotherthreatensprogramlevelconformityin

Commentnoted.SCAGrecognizesthataprojectspecificenvironmentalanalysisisunderway.Uponthecompletionof

23


Subregion theplanandprejudicesfutureenvironmentalanalyses:ThePlanhasmodeledtheSR710extensionfromoneprecisepointnorthtoanother.Unfortunately,thisassumptionremovesthelowbuildormultimodalsolutiontothecongestionproblem.Underfederalregulations,becauseofthisspecificity,thePlanandthePEIRthreatenprogramlevelconformityandprejudicefutureprojectlevelenvironmentalanalyses.

thateffortandselectionofapreferredalternativebyMetro,SCAGwillworkwithMetrotoamendtheRTPasnecessarytoupdatetheprojectdescriptionandassociatedmodelinganalysis.


[PEIRcomment(s)] SeetheFinalPEIRAddendumSection4.0,ResponsestoCommentsontheDraftRTPPEIR,LetterNumber1.

00801 LacyKelly AssociationofCaliforniaCitiesOrangeCounty

Ingeneral,theRTPinfringesuponlocalcontrol.The2012RTPassumesaninabilityoflocalagenciestobalancethesocietalandculturalcostsassociatedwithplanobjectivesandinsteadrequiresthattheyassumetheobjectivesstatedintheplan,whichmayormaynotbesharedlocalobjectives.Matterssuchasreducingvehiclemilestraveled,eliminatingtheconsumptionoffossilfuelsinfavorofzeroornearzeroemissionvehicles,installinginfrastructurenecessarytosupportzeroemissionvehicles(suchaschargingstations),reducingobesity,environmentaljusticeimpacts,anticipatingextremeweatherandrelatedevents,increasingdevelopmentdensities,andthelikelihoodoftheadoptionofactivetransportationmethodsorthepracticalityofnecessaryinfrastructureimprovementsaremattersofintenselocaldebateandarenotappropriatesubjectsforregionaldetermination.TheRTPshouldbebasedlessuponbehaviormanagementofboththepublicandpublicagenciesandmoreuponaccuratepredictionsofpopulationpatternsandfuturetransportationrequirements.

Commentnoted.SCAG'sSCSisbaseduponlocalinputfromlocaljurisdictionsandSB375legislationdoesnotrequirethatajurisdiction'slandusepoliciesandregulationsbeconsistentwiththeSCS.WhiletheSCSisintendedtoprovidearegionalstrategythatlocalgovernmentsmayconsideriftheysochoose,andgenerallyincludesthequantitativegrowthprojectionsfromeachcityandcountyintheregiongoingforward,localjurisdictionsmaintainlocallanduseauthority.


FundingmechanismsfortheRTPneedmuchmoreeconomicanalysis.Specifically,theidentificationofmorethan$110billionthroughtheimplementationofa"mileagebased"feeisconceptualatbest;evenan"adjustedgastaxalternative"isnotguaranteed.Developinga$500billiontransportationplanwithapproximately20percentofthebudgetattachedtoaconceptrequiresasignificantlocal,regional,stateandfederalvettingprocess.WeencourageSCAGtoincludealternativemethodsoffundingshouldsuchamileagebasedfeebedeemedinfeasible.

Commentnoted.Weagreethatadditionalworkisneededbeforethemileagebaseduserfeewouldbecomeeffective,whichisbasisforassumptionthatimplementationbeginsafter2025.Theprojectedrevenuefromthemileagebaseduserfeeandadjustmentstostateandfederalgasexcisestaxeswhencombinedwiththecorerevenueforecastforstateandfederalsourcesgeneratelessrevenuethanthehistoricalaverageincreaseinstateandfederaltransportationrevenuessourcesoffivepercentannually.Ratherthansimplyassumeacontinuationofthehistoricalgrowthrate,whichisconsistentwithfederalrequirements,wedetailedspecificstepsnecessarytostabilizestateandfederaltransportationrevenuesourcesconsistent

24


withrecommendationsfromtwonationalcommissionsestablishedbyCongressthroughSAFETEALU.Aswegainmoreinsightintofuturefundingoptions,wewillupdatethefinancialplanaccordinglythroughamendmentsand/orsubsequentPlanupdatesasappropriate.Ataminimum,anRTPispreparedandadoptedeveryfouryears.


[PEIRcomment(s)] SeetheFinalPEIRAddendumSection4.0,ResponsestoCommentsontheDraftRTPPEIR,LetterNumber3.

00901 MarianneKim AutomobileClubofSouthernCalifornia

Government,business,anduserstakeholdersneedtoworktogethertoimplementrealisticandappropriatenewrevenues.TheRTPassumes$220billioninnewtaxesandfees(mostlyleviedonmotorists)andfinancingoverthenext20+years.Someoftheseassumptionsarenotrealisticandwillnotlikelyhappen.Andotherfundingoptions,notnowintheplan,mightbeimplemented.Theregionneedstoworktogethertoidentifyandadvancethebest,mostappropriatefundingoptionstoprovideneededfinancingforRTPpriorities.

Commentnoted.TheRTPsfinancialplanreflectsreasonableassumptions,whichwerevettedthroughSCAGsTechnicalAdvisoryCommitteeandPolicyCommittees,discussedwithstakeholdersanddocumentedintheDraftRTPtoensuretransparency.Aswegainmoreinsightintofuturefundingoptions,wewillupdatethefinancialplanaccordinglythroughamendmentsand/orsubsequentPlanupdatesasappropriate.Ataminimum,anRTPispreparedandadoptedeveryfouryears.


TheRTPmustprotectandupholdthetransportationprioritiesapprovedbyvotersthroughvariouslocaltransportationsalestaxmeasures.Votersinfivecountiesapprovedsalestaxmeasurestofundspecifichighwayandtransitprojects.TheRTPmustincludeandsupportalloftheseprioritiesandhelpdeliverwhatvoterswerepromisedandwhatvotersapproved.Failuretodosowillmakeapprovaloffuturefundingmeasuresnearlyimpossible.

Commentnoted.TheRTPincludesthelocaloptionsalestaxmeasuresandtheirassociatedprojectsassubmittedbythecountytransportationcommissions.


The15gastaxincreaseassumedthrough2024isreasonableifitispairedwithstateandnationalreformstoensurefundswillbespentefficientlyoneffectiveprojects.Gastaxrateshavenotchangedinalmost20years.Thisusertaxhasbeenthebackboneoftransportationfundingfordecadesanditwillcontinuetobeanimportantresourceforyearstocome.

Commentnoted.WeagreebutwouldliketoreferenceaminorclarificationwithrespecttothegastaxratesthatisdetailedintheTransportationFinanceAppendix.Thestategastaxratesareupdatedannuallyasdescribedinthetext(seestategastaxswap)butremainrevenueneutral.


ThefinaldraftRTPclearlyrulesoutapreviouslyconsideredregionalgastaxorgasfee.Thisisanimportantimprovementthatshouldbemaintainedinthefinalplan.Gastaxeshavebeenimplementedatthestateandnationallevelfordecades.Attemptingtoextendsuchauthoritytolocalorregionalgovernmentisnotrealisticandwillhamperothereffortstofundtransportation.Relabelingthegastaxasafeedoesnot

Commentnoted.AregionalgastaxhasnotbeenconsideredforinclusionintheRTP.

25


changethefactthatitisataxprotectedbytheStateConstitutionandnumerousvoterapprovedmeasures.ForthesereasonstheAutoClubstronglyopposesanyattempttoimposelocalgastaxesoranyformofafeeongasoline.


TheVehicleMilesTraveled(VMT)chargeincludedintheRTPshouldbestudiedfurtherasalongtermreplacementforthegastax.However,theamountoftheproposedVMTchargeissignificant,itwillnotbeacceptedbymanypeople,anditneedstoincludeassurancesregardinghowthefundswillbespent.TheproposedVMTfeeisprojectedtogenerate$110billion(halfoftheRTPsfundingshortfall).Togeneratethisamount,theproposedVMTchargeisequivalenttoatriplingofthegastaxinadditiontonewtollsandotheruserfees.Suchalargetaxincreaseplacesasignificantburdenonmotoristswithoutassurancesofanequivalentorproportionatebenefit.

Commentnoted.Weagreethatadditionalworkisneededbeforethemileagebaseduserfeewouldbecomeeffective,whichisbasisforassumptionthatimplementationbeginsafter2025.Theprojectedrevenuefromthemileagebaseduserfeeandadjustmentstostateandfederalgasexcisestaxeswhencombinedwiththecorerevenueforecastforstateandfederalsourcesgeneratelessrevenuethanthehistoricalaverageincreaseinstateandfederaltransportationrevenuessourcesoffivepercentannually.Ratherthansimplyassumeacontinuationofthehistoricalgrowthrate,whichisconsistentwithfederalrequirements,wedetailedspecificstepsnecessarytostabilizestateandfederaltransportationrevenuesourcesconsistentwithrecommendationsfromtwonationalcommissionsestablishedbyCongressthroughSAFETEALU.TheinvestmentsintheRTP,includingallrevenuesources,provideareturnof$2.90foreverydollarinvested.


TollscanbeanimportantfinancingtoolfornewgeneralpurposehighwaylanesandforallowingmorevehiclestouseexistingHOVlanesbymakingthemHOTlanes.Tollsshouldnotbeimposedonexistinggeneralpurposelanes.Theuserpay,userbenefitprincipleisanimportantcornerstoneoftransportationfunding.ChargingtollsfornewlanesortoallowmorevehiclestoaccessHOTlanesprovidesbothneededfundingforthenewfacilitiesandinherentvaluetouserspayingthetoll.However,thereisnoassurancethatmotoristswilladequatelybenefitfromtollsorcongestionfeesimposedonexistingfreewaylanesorsurfacestreets.Newtaxesandfeesareonlysuccessfulwhenthepublicunderstandsandseesaclearbenefitforpayingthem.

Commentnoted.Notollsareproposedtobeimposedonexistinggeneralpurposelanes.


TheRTPneedstorecognizethatthemostrealisticandeffectivewaytoachievedesiredemissionsreductionshasbeenandwillcontinuetobethroughtechnologyadvancementsandnotthroughsweepingattemptstofundamentallyalterlifestylesandeconomic,geographic,anddemographicpatterns.AlthoughSB375anditsSustainableCommunityStrategyarerequiredelementsoftheRTP,theyarenotlikelytosignificantlyreduce

Commentnoted.TheRTP/SCSincludesadditionalmeanstoreduceGHGincludingalternativeautomobiletechnologiesandbettersystempreservationandmanagement.TheRTP/SCSalsointendstoofferoptionsandbuildsustainablecommunitiesinourregion,whichisaboveandbeyondachievingtheSB375GHGreductiontargets.

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GHGemissions.Improvingandencouragingtransit,bicycling,andwalkingareappropriateandgoodobjectivesfortheRTP.However,emissionsreductionsfromtheseeffortswillbeverysmallcomparedtothosethatcanandwillbeachievedthroughothermeans.Theseothermeansincludeimprovingautomobiletechnologies,alternativefuelandenergysources,andbettersystempreservationandmanagementtoimprovetrafficflowandsafety.

01001 NealRichman BREATHELA BreatheLAsupportsthecommentsintheClimatePlansignonletterinresponsetotheSCAGRTP/SCSfor2012.Weseebothstrengthsandshortcomingsinthisplanningdocumentandhopethat,totheextentfeasible,issuesthatareidentifiedbytheClimatePlancoalitionwillberemediedbeforefinaladoption.Inadditiontotheserecommendations,BreatheLAseekstoexpressitsconcernthattheRTP/SCSmayunderestimatetheactualimpactofpollutioninareasadjacenttofreewaysandhighlytraveledcorridorsbecausecurrentplanningmethodsdonotfullyconsiderthehealthconsequencesofultrafinedieselparticulates.TheRTP/SCSfocusesontheimpactofPM10andPM2.5.However,thereisgrowingevidenceoftheadversehealtheffectsofultrafinedieselparticulatematterthatiscomposedofcarbon,organiccompounds,metals,andothertraceelements.Foranumberofreasonsultrafineparticles(lessthan0.1micronsinwidth)arenotyetregulated.Airqualitystandardsarebasedonmassconcentrationforparticulatematter.However,thehealtheffectofultrafineparticles(UFPs)seemstooccurthroughparticlenumberconcentration,notmassconcentration.UFPsareasmallproportionbymass,butalargeproportionbynumber.Becauseoftheirextremelysmallsize,UFPscanpenetratedeepintothelungtissue,circulatethroughoutthebody,andbecomedepositedwithincellularstructures.Themainsourcesofdieselexhaustrangefromtrucksandcarstolocomotives,ships,andindustrialequipment.InLosAngelesCounty,about70%ofairqualityriskisderivedfromdieselparticulateemissions,especiallyfrommobilesources.ConcentrationsofUFPsaregreatestaroundfreewayswithtrucktrafficandbegintodecreaseasthedistanceawayfromfreewaysincreases.TheRTP/SCSdoespointoutthepotentialimpactofroadsidepollutantsbynotingthehighconcentrationofvulnerableresidentswholiveandworkin

Commentnoted.SCAGwillprovideinformationthatdetailstheoverallresultsandconclusionsrelatedtoenvironmentaljusticeforthe2012RTP/SCS.Anticipateditemsofnote:1)Regionwideenvironmentalperformancerelatedtoemissionsismostlyimprovedfromthebaseyear,andalsoshowsimprovementwhencomparingtheplantothebaselinescenario.2)Informationonemissionsimpactsforareaswithin1,000feetofhighwayswillbeincludedasanaddendumtotheEnvironmentalJustice(EJ)Appendix.WhiletheEJanalysisintheDraftRTPdidshowsomelocationswithemissionsincreases,thisanalysisdidnotaccountforplanimprovementsinvehicletechnologyparticularlyfortruckonlycorridors.Thesecorridorsintheplanareexclusivelyforzeroandnearzeroemissionvehicles.Iftheseemissionimprovementshadbeenaccountedforwebelievetheanalysiswouldshownohotspotsassociatedwiththeplan.Assuch,theemissionsandexposureanalysisshownintheDraftEJAppendixisabundantlyconservativeanddemonstratingworstcasescenariooutcomes.Evenintheeventthathotspotsremainafteraccountingforvehicletechnologyimprovements,thereisnoreliablewaytoconcludehotspotswouldoverlaywithEJcommunities.Neithertheavailabledataonemissionsnorondistributionofhouseholdsandpopulationisatapreciseenoughlevelofgeographytoshowwheretheywouldintersect.SCAGisverymuchawareofthecompetinginterestsbetweennearroadwayexposuresandhealthbenefitsfromTODsasaresultofactivetransportationopportunity.SCAGencouragesresearchandstudiestofurtherexplorefeasiblemitigationmeasures.Pleasenotethatthenearroadwayexposuresaffectnotonlytheresidentsbutalsocommuters,travelers,andnearroadwayworkforceincludingoffices,retails,services,andvisitors,etc.

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areasthatareadjacenttofreewaysandhighlytraveledcorridors.TheRTP/SCSstates:freewayadjacentareasaccountforjust1percentoftheSCAGlandareabutaccommodate5.8percentofregionalhouseholdsandlessthan10percentoftotalSCAGregionjobs.TherearedisproportionatelyhigherconcentrationsofEnvironmentalJusticeCommunitiesinthefreewayadjacentareasbothcurrentlyinour2035projectionMoreover,astheRTP/SCSstates:The2012RTP/SCSlandusestrategycallsforredirectingfuturegrowthintoHQTA(HighQualityTransitAreas)Asaresult,partofthegrowthwilloccurinareaswhereHQTAisoverlappingwithin500feetfreewaybufferareas.ThequestionremainshowhighqualitycananHQTAbeifitiswithina500footbufferarea.Ofparticularconcernistherisksposedbyincompatiblelanduse,includingsensitivereceptorssuchashospitals,senior/daycenters,andhousingnearfreewayandbusyroadways.First,itwouldbehelpfultoiden fythoseportionsoftheHQTAswhicharehealthyfornewresidentialdevelopmentandwhicharenot.Asnoted,thehealthrisksfromfineparticulatematterdecreaserapidlythefurthertheparticlesaremeasuredfromasource.SomeareasoftheHQTAsmightbeveryappropriatefordevelopmentwhileinanotherlocationthiswouldnotbethecase.Por onsofHQTAswherenewresidentialdevelopmentisnotadvisablewillhavehigherhealthriskfromtoxicaircontaminantslikedieselparticulatematter.TheseportionscanbedeterminedbyapplyingguidelinesdevelopedbytheCaliforniaAirResourcesBoard(CARB)thatrecommendthatsensitivelandusesnotbesitedwithin1000feetofrailyards,warehouses,anddistributioncenters.Theguidelinesalsorecommendthatsensitivelandusesnotbesitedwithin500feetoffreeways,withoutappropriatemitigationstominimizethisrisk.SupportwiseinfilldevelopmentbyincentivizingthedevelopmentofhousingandsensitivelanduseslikeparksandschoolsoutsideportionsofHQTAswithhigherhealthriskfromtoxicaircontaminants.EncouragesitingmoresuitablelandusessuchascommercialandlightindustriallanduseswithinhigherhealthriskportionsofHQTAs.EncouragelocaljurisdictionstorequiremitigationmeasuresforproposedresidentialdevelopmentswithinportionsofHQTAswiththehighesthealthriskfromtoxicaircontaminants.The

However,regionwideairqualityisimprovingwiththe plancomparingtoeithertodaysconditionorfutureyearwithouttheplan.Moreover,whiletheregionalairqualityisimproving,thefreewayadjacentareasairqualityisimprovingevenmoresubstantially.Finally,whileSCAGencouragesfuturegrowthintheHQTA,only22%ofthegrowthincrementoccurswithinthe500feetroadwaybufferareas.TheEnvironmentalJusticeappendixalsoincludesamitigationtoolboxtominimizeexposuretoenvironmentalharm,wherefeasibleandappropriate.SCAGwillincludepotentialresourcestoaddressgentrificationintheEJappendix.Welookforwardtocontinuingtoworkwithenvironmentaljusticestakeholdersontheseimportantissues.TheRTP/SCSdoesresultinanincreaseinpopulationintheselocations,however,andassuchhealthriskcouldbehigherfortheseindividualsthaniftheywerenotinthebufferarea.

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appropriatemitigationmeasuresrequiredtoreducehealthriskposedbytheproposeddevelopmentshouldbeidentifiedbasedondetailedmodelingandassessmentoflocalconditionsatandsurroundingthesite,includingproximitytofreightrelatedhazardsandempiricallycountedamountsofdieseltruckandtraintrafficmovingthroughthearea.Specifically,mitigationmeasurescanbeputinplacebydeveloperstomeettherequiredconditionsforzoningapproval.Thesemeasuresrangefromindoorairfiltrationandmonitoringtositeredesignthatlocatessensitivereceptorsasfarawayaspossiblefromsourcesofairpollution.Toaddresspotentialadversehealthimpacts,mitigationmeasuresinproposedhousingdevelopmentsareasmightinclude:1)InstallHEPAindoorairfiltrationsystemsdesignedtofilterouttoxicaircontaminantsincludingfineparticulatematter(PM2.5);2)Usetriplepaned,sealed,andnonoperationalwindowsthatreducetheimpactofvibrationsfromfreighttrafficandminimizeoutdooraircontaminantflowintoindoorspaces;3)Usegreen,healthybuildingmaterialsthatdonotoffgasorreleaseairtoxinsthatcompromiseindoorairquality;4)Includeadequategreenspace,vegetativeplanting,andpermeablesurfaceareathatiswellmaintainedincorporatedintodevelopmentdesignandmanagementplans;5)Minimizeparkingallocationsinthedevelopmenttoreducecongestionandairpollutionfromadditionalautomobiletrafficandstalledfreighttraffic,andincentivizetheuseoftransit,carsharing,andzeroemissionelectricvehiclesbyintegratingchargersintothedesignofparkinggarageareas;6)Designdevelopmentstocapturepollutedrunofffromthesidesofbuildingsandotheroutdoorsurfacesthathaveaccumulateddieselsootandothercontaminantssothatsuchcontaminantsdonotflowintogreenspacesinthedevelopment;7)Designdevelopmentstoequitablydistributethehealthriskfromtoxicaircontaminantsposedbythedevelopmentacrossallunitsinthedevelopment(egdonotlocateaffordablehousingunitsintheleastdesirableareasofthedevelopmentclosesttofreighttransportfacilitiesandcorridorslikefreeways);8)Notifyprospectiveresidentswithinthedeedorleasedocumentforthepropertyofthehoursofoperationoffreighttransportfacilitiesandtheirrelatednoise,airquality,lightpollution,andhealthimpacts;GrowthinHQTAsisneeded,webelievethatsuch

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measuresmightbewaystoencourageadditionaldensityneartransithubswhilesimultaneouslyprotectingpublichealth.Thereneedstobefurtherdiscussionofthesetypesofideastodeterminewhicharemostappropriateandfeasibleineachsetofcircumstances.ManyoftheserecommendationswereputforthbypublichealthandenvironmentalorganizationsinresponsetothepublicationoftheSustainableCommunitiesStrategybytheAssociationofBayAreaGovernments.Tothegreatestextentfeasible,suchairpollutionmitigationstrategiesshouldnotbedevelopedbyeachregionindependently,butrathershouldbereflectedinstatewidepoliciesthatpromotehealthandenvironmentaljusticethroughoutCalifornia.

01101 ScottGoldie BrooksStreet 1.TheSCSdoesnotappeartoaccountforprojectsalreadyinprocessBrooksStreetrepresentstheownersofthousandsacresofpropertyinsouthernCalifornia,andhasalonghistoryoftopqualitydevelopmentsintheSCAGregion.However,weareconcernedthattheSCSprocesshasnotfullyaccountedforprojectsthatarealreadyinprocess.BrooksStreethasprojectsinsouthernCaliforniathatarefullyentitledandapprovedforbuildout,aswellasproposedprojectswithpendingapplicationsthatrepresentasubstantialinvestmentofresourcestodesign,planandcommunicatewiththecommunityandresponsibleagencies.WhiletheSCSitselfstatesthatitwascreatedwithinputfromlocaljurisdictions(see,forexample,DraftRTP/SCSp.111),weareconcernedthatthegrowthprojectionscontainedintheSCSandLandUsePatternMapsdonotinfactreflectthelandusedecisionsthathavebeenmadebylocaljurisdictions.Morespecifically,whiletheDraftRTP/SCSindicatesthatithasshiftedprojecteddensitiesfromlessdevelopedareastotheurbanizedcore,nowheredoestheSCSclearlystatethatthoseshiftsindensitytakeintoaccountdevelopmentprojectsthatareeitheralreadyapprovedorthatarereasonablyforeseeableprojectswhichlocaljurisdictionshavealreadyspentconsiderableresourcesprocessing.

Commentnoted.TheTAZlevelmapshavebeendevelopedforthepurposeofmodelingperformanceonly,andthegrowthandlanduseassumptionsfortheRTP/SCSaretobeadoptedatthejurisdictionallevel.

01102 ScottGoldie BrooksStreet 2.UnderlyingTAZdatamustbereleasedtoallowmeaningfulpubliccommentMoreover,theSCS'streatmentofapprovedprojectsisimpossibletodeterminefromtheinformationthatSCAGhasmadeavailabletothepublic.The2035LandUsePatternMaps,whichareintendedtodepictprojecteddensityandlanduse,areatsuchalargescale,withsuchslightcolor

Commentnoted.TheTAZlevelmapshavebeendevelopedforthepurposeofmodelingperformanceonly,andthegrowthandlanduseassumptionsfortheRTP/SCSaretobeadoptedatthejurisdictionallevel.TheTAZleveldatasetwasprovideduponrequestduringthecommentperiod.

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gradations,thattheycannotbeinterpretedinanymeaningfulway.TheSCSitselfdoesnotseemtocontemplatethatthesemapswillbeimportanttofuturetransportationandlandusedecisions.Instead,theSCSfocusesontheprojecteddensitycontainedinthedatathatunderliesthemapsdatathatSCAGhasnotreleasedtothepublic.TheSCSstatesthatthelanduseprojectionscontainedintheSCSarebasedonthedistributionofgrowthforecastdatatotransportationanalysiszones.(RTP/SCS,p.122.)AccordingtotheSCS,theTAZdatacontainsforecastedhousing,population,andemploymentdata,whichtheSCSusedtocreate"CommunityTypes"andmorerefined"DevelopmentTypes"thatcontainaverageusedesignations,densities,andbuildingintensities.TheSCSstatesthataDevelopmentType,includinganaverageresidentialdensity,hasbeenassignedtoeachTAZforpurposesofcreatingtheSCS.(DraftRTP/SCS,p.123.)However,itcannotbedeterminedwhetherthisassignmentwasmadeinamannerthattakesexistingconditions(includingapprovedandreasonablyforeseeableprojects)asabaselinefortheseprojections,norcanitbedeterminedhowtheforecastingwasdoneorhowitwasdistributedacrosstheTAZ.DespitethecriticalroleoftheTAZdataindevelopingtheSCS,wearenotawarethatSCAGhasmadethisdataavailableforpublicreviewandcommentinanymeaningfulway.Wewereabletoobtainpartialdata,showinghousingdensitiesonly,fromotheragenciesinvolvedintheSCSprocess.Thesedatadonotcontainemploymentorpopulationforecasts,anddonotcontainanyCommunityTypeorDevelopmentTypedesignationswhich,accordingtotheSCS,havebeenassignedtoeachTAZ.ItisnotpossibleforthepublictoprovidemeaningfulcommentontheSCSwithoutaccesstotheunderlyingdataonwhichdensityandlanduseprojectionsarebased.Intheabsenceoftheunderlyingdataandmodelingsupportingtheproposedplan,wearesubstantiallyimpairedinourabilitytoprovidemeaningfulpubliccommentonthetechnicalandlegaladequacyoftheplan.Inparticular,wecannotassesswhethertheunderlyingdataadequatelyreflectsalldevelopmentsasapproved.Underthefederal(5U.S.C.500et.seq.)andCaliforniaAdministrativeProceduresActs(Gov.Code11340etseq.,including11346.2(b)(6)),theopportunityforpubliccommentmustincludedisclosureofthedataandtechnical

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studiesin timetoprovidemeaningfulpubliccomment.See,e.g.SoliteCorp.v.EPA,952F.2d473,484(D.C.Cir.1991)(percuriam).Whilewearenotconfidentthatthedataiseitheraccurateorcomplete,wehavereviewedwhatdatawewereabletoobtain.Basedonourreviewweconcludethattheforecastedhousingdensitiesdoneedtobecorrected,asthenumbersclearlydonotreflecteitherexistingentitlementsorpending,reasonablyforeseeableprojects.

01103 ScottGoldie BrooksStreet 3.ImplicationsofconsistencywithunderlyingTAZdataTheimportanceoftheTAZdataisnotlimitedtounderstandinghowtheSCSwascreated.InadditiontobeingthebasisforcreationoftheSCSlanduseprojections,accordingtotheSCS,theTAZdataistobereliedoninfuturedeterminationsastowhetheraprojectisconsistentwiththeSCS.TheSCSstates:"SCAGsuggeststhatutilizingcommunitytypesattheTAZlevelofgeography(whichanaveragesizeof160squareacres)offerslocaljurisdictionsadequateinformationandflexibilitytomakeappropriateconsistencyfindingsforprojectstobeeligibletoreceiveCEQAstreamliningbenefits."(DraftRTP/SCSp.122.)"Onewayofdeterminingconsistency[withtheSCS]isifaproposedresidential/mixeduseorTPP[TransitPriorityProject]conformswiththeDevelopmentTypedesignatedforaTAZ."(DraftRTP/SCS,page148.)DespitetheseexplicitstatementsthattheexistingTAZdatawillbecriticallyimportanttofuturedecisionsaffectingprojects,SCAGhasnotprovidedthepublictheopportunitytoreviewandcommentontheTAZdatainanymeaningfulway.Significantly,aproject'sconsistencywiththeSCSwhichistobedeterminedattheTAZlevelaccordingtotheSCSaffectsnotonlytheavailabilityofCEQAstreamliningincentives,butcanhaveadverseconsequencesfortheavailabilityoffederalfundsfortransitimprovementsthatwouldservetheproject.TransitimprovementprojectsrelyingonfederalfundingmustbeconsistentwithanapprovedRTP,andwiththeadoptionofSB375,thatincludesconsistencywiththeSustainableCommunitiesStrategyportionoftheRTPaswell.(40CFR93.102;42U.S.C.7506.)Thus,iftheDraftRTP/SCShasshifteddensityawayfromapprovedorpendingprojects,thoseprojectsstandtolosecriticaltransitimprovements.Thelossoftransitimprovementscouldimpairprojectfeasibility,orcreatenewunmitigatedimpactsiftrafficmitigationsbecome

Commentnoted.SCAGsSCSisbaseduponlocalinputfromlocaljurisdictionsandSB375legislationdoesnotrequirethatajurisdictionslandusepoliciesandregulations,includingitsgeneralplan,beconsistentwiththeSCS.Thereisnointenttoimpactthelocalentitlementprocess.Insomecases,SCAGalteredsmallarealanduseassumptionstobetterreflecttrendsoccurringinmanytransitrichareasoftheregion.WhiletheSCSisintendedtoprovidearegionalstrategythatlocalgovernmentsmayconsiderandgenerallyincludesthequantitativegrowthprojectionsfromeachcityandcountyintheregiongoingforward,localjurisdictionsmaintainlocallanduseauthority.TheTAZlevelmapshavebeendevelopedforthepurposeofmodelingperformance.Leadagencies,includinglocaljurisdictions,maintaintheirowndiscretioninhowtodetermineconsistencyofanyfutureprojectwiththeSCS.

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unfunded,whichcouldresultinanunlawfultakingofprivatevestedpropertyrightsforthoseprojectsthathavealreadybeenapprovedbylocaljurisdictions.Inmanycases,approvedprojectsalsoinvolveexecuteddevelopmentagreements,whichmeansthatviolationofcontractualrightscouldalsoresult,causingdifficultsituationsfordevelopersandlocaljurisdictions.Weareconcernedthataproject'sinconsistencywiththegrowthprojectionscontainedintheSCSmayhavebroaderimplicationsaswell.Localjurisdictionswillbeunderconsiderablepressuretoconformtheirgeneralplanstothedensity,intensity,andlandusescontainedintheSCS,orrisklosingtransportationfundingthroughouttheirjurisdictions.Whilealltheimplicationsofaproject'sinconsistencywiththeSCShaveyettobedetermined,weareconcernedthatbyshiftingdensityawayfromlocallyapprovedandpendingprojects,theSCSiscreatinglandusepolicyinviolationofSB375'smandatethattheSCSmustnotsupersedethelanduseauthorityofcitiesandcounties.(Gov'tCode65080(b)(2)(J).)

01104 ScottGoldie BrooksStreet 4.RTP/SCSconsistencyshouldbedeterminedatthejurisdictionallevelTheTAZmapsareamodelingtoolforengaginginaregionalplanningandevaluationprocess.ThefeasibilityofachievingthepreciseresultsinanyparticularTAZareahasnotbeenevaluatedorconfirmedbyanycitycouncilorboardofsupervisors,andasexplainedaboveitappearsthattheTAZdataandmapsfor2035dodeviatefromgeneralplansandvestedentitlementsthathavebeenapprovedbytheseelectedofficials.Whileweunderstandelectedbodiesorsenioradministrativestaffsoflocaljurisdictionsmayhaveapprovedlocalinputfortheoverallpopulationandhouseholdnumberswithintheirrespectivejurisdictions,webelievetheyhavenotapprovedtheTAZdataormaps.Accordingly,requiringconsistencydeterminationsconcerningusedesignations,density,andbuildingintensityatthesmallscaleofeachTAZwouldbeinappropriateandoverlyprescriptive.Again,SB375specificallyprecludesSCAGfrominterferingwithlocallandusedecisions.1SB375requiresthatanSCSidentifythegenerallocationofuses,residentialdensities,andbuildingintensitieswithintheregion.Calif.GovernmentCode65080(b)(2)(B)(i)(emphasisadded).ThusthereisnolegislativemandatethatSCAGidentifythelocationoflanduses,densitiesandbuilding

Commentnoted.SCAGsSCSisbaseduponlocalinputfromlocaljurisdictionsandSB375legislationdoesnotrequirethatajurisdictionslandusepoliciesandregulations,includingitsgeneralplan,beconsistentwiththeSCS.Thereisnointenttoimpactthelocalentitlementprocess.Insomecases,SCAGalteredsmallarealanduseassumptionstobetterreflecttrendsoccurringinmanytransitrichareasoftheregion.WhiletheSCSisintendedtoprovidearegionalstrategythatlocalgovernmentsmayconsiderandgenerallyincludesthequantitativegrowthprojectionsfromeachcityandcountyintheregiongoingforward,localjurisdictionsmaintainlocallanduseauthority.TheTAZlevelmapshavebeendevelopedforthepurposeofmodelingperformance.Leadagencies,includinglocaljurisdictions,maintaintheirowndiscretioninhowtodetermineconsistencyofanyfutureprojectwiththeSCS.

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intensitieswithintheregionmorepreciselydowntoaTAZlevel.Instead,SCAGshouldappropriatelyidentifythesecharacteristicsatalevelconsistentwiththeneedforreasonableflexibilityandlocalcontrol.Atthelowest,thelevelofcomparisonshouldbeatajurisdictionallevelparticularlygiventhattherearenearly200jurisdictionswithintheSCAGregion.Accordingly,weurgeSCAGtoidentifysuchcharacteristicsatnofinerascalethanatthelesserof(i)thejurisdiction,and(ii)thesubregion(i.e.,whereunincorporatedcountylandisdividedintosubregions).DespiteSB375'smandatethattheSCSnotregulatelanduse,thedraftRTP/SCS"shifts"households"fromtheperipheryintotheurbanizedcore"statingthatmuchofthisshift"willoccurnaturallyinthemarketplace,"andthatthis"shift"wasdone"perconsultationwiththelocaljurisdictions."(DraftRTP/SCSp.128.)However,thisshiftdoesnot"occurnaturally,"northrougha"consultation"processbetweenagencystaffthatexcludesthepublic.Instead,suchashiftcanonlyoccur,ifatall,aspartofaseparateandlengthydiscretionarydevelopmentapplicationprocessinvolvingrequeststolocallandusejurisdictionstoamendtheirgeneralplans,specificplans,areasplans,andzoning.Inshort,thereisno"shift"tohighdensityhousinginsomelocaljurisdictions,andawayfromhousingdensityalreadyapprovedbyotherjurisdictions,unlessanduntilthelocallandusejurisdictionsadopttherequesteddiscretionaryapprovals.

01201 AndrewHenderson

BuildingIndustryAssociationofSouthernCalifornia

Concerningtheactualpolicydocumentsatissue(i.e.,theDraftRTPandtheDraftSCSthemselves),BIASChasonefundamentalconcern:Page148oftheDraftSCSsuggeststhatlocalgovernmentsshouldlooktotransportationanalysiszone(TAZ)mapstodeterminewhetheraparticularprojectisconsistentwiththelandusedesignation,density,andbuildingintensityoftheSCS.BIASCbelievesthatthissectionneedstoberevisedforthreedistinctreasons.First,BIASCisinformedthattheTAZmapsbreaklandmassesupintorelativelysmallscaleareasaveragingperhapsonlyabout150acresinsize(andevensmallerinmoredenselypopulatedareas).RequiringdeterminationsabouttheconsistencyoffuturelandusestotheSCSconcerningusedesignations,density,buildingintensityandtheapplicableSCSpoliciesatthatfineascalewouldbeoverlyprescriptive.SCAGneednotbenearlysoprescriptive


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becauseSB375requiresonlythatanSCSidentifythegenerallocationofuses,residentialdensities,andbuildingintensitieswithintheregion.Calif.GovernmentCode65080(b)(2)(B)(i)(emphasisadded).Giventhislegislativemandate,thereisnoreasonforSCAGtomeasureandcomparelandusecharacteristicswithintheregionattheveryfineTAZlevelvisvispolicydeterminations.Instead,thefinalRTP/SCSshouldpermitlocalagenciestomeasureandcomparelandusecharacteristicswiththeregionalstrategyatalevelconsistentwiththeneedforreasonableongoingflexibilityinlocallandusecontrol.Therefore,thelevelofcomparisonshouldbe,atthefinest,atacityjurisdictionallevel(includinganysphereofinfluence)giventhattherearenearly200separatejurisdictionswithintheSCAGregion.BIASCspecificallyurgesSCAGtoidentifyandcomparesuchlandusecharacteristicsatnofinerascalethan(i)thecities(includingtheirrespectiveadjoiningspheresofinterest),and(ii)concerningtheunincorporatedareasoutsideoflocalspheresofinterest,bycomparisontotheroughscalemapthatindicatesgenerallythelocationsofbuildingintensificationshownintheSCS.SeeExhibit2totheDraftSCSBackgroundDocumentation,foundathttp://rtpscs.scag.ca.gov/Documents/2012/draft/SR/2012dRTP_SCSBackgroundDocumentation.pdf.



Second,BIASCisconcernedthatanyprescriptiveuseofTAZmapsforpolicypurposescouldhavenegativeconsequencesvisvisthependingprocessforarequiredfederalconformitydetermination.Underthefederallawsthatrelatetothefederalfundingofregionaltransportationinfrastructure,anRTPmustbeconstructedusingthelatestplanningassumptions.Usingthelatestplanningassumptionsmeansthattheconformitydeterminationisbasedonthemostcurrentinformationthatisavailabletostateandlocalplanners.U.S.E.P.A.GuidancefortheUseofLatestPlanningAssumptionsinTransportationConformityDeterminations(EPA420B08901,December2008),2.2(emphasisintheoriginal),foundat:http://www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/policy/420b08901.pdfandincorporatedhereinbyreference.IfandtotheextentthatSCAGsTAZlevelmapsandthedatareflectedinthemareunacceptabletolocalplannersandwerenotavailabletothemwhentheRTPwasdeveloped,thenfinescaledata


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basedupontheTAZmapsshouldnotbeincorporatedintotheRTPviatheSCS.TheywouldinsteadneedtobeseparatedoutfromtheRTPandatmostmadepartofanalternativeplanningscenario(APS)underCaliforniaGovernmentCodesection65080(b)(2)(H).WebelievethatanyconflictbetweenthefederallymandatedRTPapproachandtheSCSTAZlevelmapscanbeavoidedbymakingallrelevantpolicydeterminationsbasedoncomparisonsviewedatthecitylevel(includinganysphereofinfluence)andbyreferencetothegeneralizedlocationsdepictedforintensificationinunincorporatedcountyareas(forexample,inExhibit2totheBackgroundDocumentationasnotedabove).



Third,noTAZlevelmapswereprovidedtothepublicaspartofeithertheDraftRTP/SCSortheDraftPEIR,norweretheyincludedinanyoftheappendicesthatSCAGprovidedtothepublic.Hopefully,theomissionreflectsSCAGsprepublicationdeterminationtoforgotheuseofanyTAZlevelmapsforpolicypurposes.Ifthiswerethecase,thenitappearsthatSCAGsstaffinadvertentlyfailedtorevisepage148oftheDraftSCSpriortoitspublicationforcomment;andSCAGshouldnowrevi

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