One [more] small step
How timely. Today, Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB375. This bill is an anti-sprawl bill that dovetails into AB32, the state’s landmark climate protection legislation encouraging communities to build smarter and decrease sprawl. As a carrot, much state transportation money, specifically capital bonds for new service, will be tied to goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (sorry no transit-for-vegetarians programs Jack!). The incentive will be tied to the building of transit-oriented developments that reduce auto-use.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Tuesday establishing new incentives to discourage sprawl in future decades, solidifying a major deal between environmentalists, homebuilders and local governments.
Senate Bill 375 requires the California Air Resources Board to provide regional targets by September 2010 for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The state will use its $5 billion pot of transportation money to encourage regions to account for compact development in the planning process.
The legislation also will relax California Environmental Quality Act requirements for housing projects that meet goals for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, giving homebuilders incentive to pursue high-density projects near transit.
“What this will mean is more environmentally-friendly communities, more sustainable developments, less time people spend in their cars, more alternative transportation options and neighborhoods we can safely and proudly pass on to future generations,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
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