Sacramento – Today, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) introduced Assembly Bill 1627, the Healthy Neighborhoods Act. The bill would require new and expanded developments to incorporate measures which would reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) that otherwise might be generated by the project. The bill will be heard by the legislature in the coming months.
“Reducing vehicle miles traveled is critical to safeguard California’s environment, economic prosperity, and the health and safety of its citizens. By reducing auto use at the project level and encouraging development in existing neighborhoods, we will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, encourage the use of green transportation options and foster healthier communities,” said Assemblymember Dickinson.
California’s reliance upon cars for access is substantially the result of the form of urban development in the last 60 to 70 years that, in most instances, has left most households with no transportation alternatives to driving in order to do their normal everyday tasks. While significant strides are now being made to reduce VMTs through traditional regional planning efforts (i.e., general plan updates, regional transportation planning, etc.) a great deal can be done to augment these efforts at the project level.
“Senator Steinberg’s SB 375 represented a significant step forward in planning healthier communities. My bill will ensure that the promise of SB 375 is realized,” Dickinson added.
AB 1627 would direct the California Energy Commission (CEC) to establish requirements for building projects that will reduce the VMT by building occupants and visitors through location of the building project, walkability, bikeability and transit access, project design, travel demand management programs, energy efficiency, and offsite mitigation. The bill would require all new development to reduce the average need for driving by the building users, which would likely be accomplished by increased infill development.
“We have done a great deal to improve planning at the regional level through legislation like SB 375; this bill represents the next logical step to take planning down to a project level and ensure we are doing everything within our power to reduce vehicle miles travelled at new developments,” said Bruce Reznik, Executive Director of the Planning & Conservation League, sponsors of AB 1627.
Pursuant to the bill, the compliance verification would be enforced by local governments at the issuance of a building permit. Development of regulations, updating of regulations and enforcement would be done by the CEC.
Contact: Taryn Kinney, (916) 319-2009
