Collaboration and Scoping in Scenario Planning

2012 TRB Planning Committee Summer Meeting and National Scenario Planning Peer Exchange - July 8-10, 2012 - Irvine, CA

Planning in General

The State of California Largest population in the U.S. - 37.7 million (2011) Total area of 164,000 square miles – 3rd largest in

the U.S. 58 Counties, 482 municipalities

Climate ranges from Mediterranean to subartic; both the highest (Mt. Whitney) and lowest (Badwater Basin, Death Valley) points in the contiguous U.S. are in California

32 million registered vehicles Approx. 2.3 Million paved road

miles

MPOs in the State of California

The San Joaquin Valley 8 Counties, 62 Cities and 8 MPOs 2010 Population - 4 million Accounts for 10.7% of the State’s population

The region is anticipated to absorb 25% of new State-wide growth to 2050

2050 Population projected to be 6.7 million

Produces 8% of the nations agriculture; approx. 18.5 billion in USD annually

The San Joaquin Valley MPOs

Confusion vs. Collaboration

Confusion vs. Collaboration (cont.)

Blueprint Planning in California

The SJV Blueprint Process

The SJV Blueprint Process (cont.) What is it? Began in 2005 (Plan formulated in

2006; adopted in 2009; with implementation beginning in 2010)

An 8 County regional planning process with Councils of Governments (COGs) serving as lead agencies

Has both County level and Valley-wide components

Provides a chance to plan for the future of transportation and land use in the San Joaquin Valley through 2050

Evaluates alternative growth scenarios using planning tools and extensive community input

The SJV Blueprint Process (cont.) Public Input and Outreach

Partners included: • State Agencies (Caltrans,

California Air Resources Board, Dept. of Health and Human Services, etc.)

• Regional Agencies (the 8 MPOs) • Local Agencies (Cities, Counties,

community rep’s, etc.) • Non-profit and Educational

Institutions (the California Partnership, the Great Valley Center, UC Davis, Local Government Commission, etc.)

• General public and Non-governmental Institutions (Developers, bankers, health professionals, various labor groups, committees and workgroups

The SJV Blueprint Process (cont.)

The SJV Blueprint Process (cont.) The Process Three major phases: 1) Values and

Vision; 2) Goals, Objectives and Performance Measures; and 3) Evaluation of Alternative Growth Scenarios

Each of the 8 County MPOs prepared separate county-wide blueprints, which were then consolidated into one Valley-wide Blueprint

Compilation of the separate scenarios produced three alternatives (i,.e., A, B and C) based upon different levels of housing density, travel choices, farmland preservation and other variables.

The SJV Blueprint Process (cont.) The 12 Smart Growth Principles

o A Range of housing opportunities and choices o Walkable neighborhoods o Community and stakeholder collaboration o Attractive communities with a sense of place o Predictable, fair and cost effective development

regulations o Mixed land uses o Preserve open space, farmland, and critical

environmental areas o A variety of transportation choices o Direct development towards existing communities o Compact building design o Enhance the economic vitality of the region o Environmental resource management

The SJV Blueprint Process (cont.)

The SJV Blueprint Process (cont.)

The SJV Blueprint Process (cont.) A Unified Vision

On April 1, 2009 the SJV Regional Policy Council (made up of 2 elected officials from each of the 8 SJV COG Boards) reviewed the Valley MPOs’ collaborative work on the Blueprint and took the following actions: • Adopted a list of Smart Growth Principles to be

used as the basis of Blueprint planning in the San Joaquin Valley.

• Adopted Growth Scenario B+, which represented the preferred scenario from each of the 8 SJV COGs.

The SJV Blueprint Process (cont.) Growth Scenario B+

The SJV Blueprint Process (cont.)

The SJV Blueprint Process (cont.)

For more information, including videos, pictures and tools, go to:

www.valleyblueprint.org

The SJVs Next Collaborative Planning Challenge

SB 375

oThe Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008, also known as Senate Bill 375 (SB 375), a State of California law targeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from “mobile” pollution sources, specifically passenger vehicles. oSB 375 was a follow up bill to Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. AB 32 set goals for the reduction of statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, representing a 25 percent reduction statewide. oThe California Air Resources Board (CARB or ARB) is charged with establishing greenhouse gas emission “targets” for regions within the state including the San Joaquin Valley. oEach MPO is now required to formulate a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) element within their Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) to identify how they can meet the reduction targets adopted for their air basin. oThe challenge=multiple MPOs; one air basin to target for reduction

The SJVs Next Collaborative Planning Challenge

The Blueprint Paved the Road for SCS Success By…

“Right Place, Right Time…Right Away”

Football - BYU vs. Utah State 2011 Copyright ESPN Inc.

For more information contact Rob Terry at Fresno COG

rterry@fresnocog.org

Learn more about the SJV Blueprint at www.valleyblueprint.org