State Senator Steinberg - SB 375

Senator Steinberg should be commended for pushing this bill through the CA State Senate. SB 375 will expedite planning and review processes for projects that reduce Vehicle Miles Travelled. The bill itself is more complex, and if you're interested in learning more, read below.

This short video shows him speaking at the Capitol.

TITLE - Californian Senator Darryl Steinberg (28 Oct 2008) – hosted by

California Center for Environmental Law and Public Policy

 

Talk described the passage of the Senate Bill 375 for transport and

land use planning.  The bill aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

from transportation by reducing vehicles miles travelled.  Address

urban sprawl and control development in ways to minimize commuting

distances and vehicle km by better aligning the location of housing

and workplaces.  Passage of the bill occurred when municipalities,

developers, environmentalists and state government we able to reach a

consensus – “everyone gave up a little and gave a lot”.

 

By 2011, all major transport funds for capex projects will need to be

approved under SB 375.

 

In the past there have been major coordinated planning obstacles in

California as vested interests and different levels of government have

squabbled over control and fought for their slice of the development

pie, even if this increased environmental impact.

 

The main enabling event that allowed the planning bill to pass was the

earlier passage of the greenhouse gas reduction bill AB32.  California

is now legally bound to meet very aggressive carbon reduction targets

by 2020.  This was a major intervening event that gained support for

aligning interests.

 

Senator Steinberg is very interested in green job creation, but we do

not seem to be entirely clear about what this means yet.  He is

generally supportive of high speed rail, and sees this as a catalyst

for new industry and jobs, while environmentally favorable.  He sees

the environmental targets in AB 32 also related to the agenda of

improved education and social justice