RPVCCA_CC_SR_2014_02_18_06_Sustainable_So_Bay_Trans_Land_UseCITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MEMORANDUM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM: MATT WATERS, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST@
DATE: FEBRUARY 18, 2014
SUBJECT: CREATION OF SUSTAINABLE SOUTH BAY TRANSPORTATION
AND LAND USE IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK
REVIEWED: CAROLYNN PETRU, ACTING CITY MANAGE @
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of support for the creation of a Sustainable South Bay
Transportation and Land Use Implementation Framework.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The South Bay Cities Council of Government (SBCCOG), in conjunction with the Los
Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, recently contacted the City of Rancho
Palos Verdes requesting support for a joint application proposal creating a Sustainable
South Bay Transportation and Land Use Implementation Framework (Framework). Due to
the short turnaround request by SBCCOG, Mayor Pro Tern Jim Knight, the City's liaison to
SBCCOG, requested that this item be placed on this evening's agenda for discussion.
The framework is intended to address significant environmental issues affecting the entire
South Bay. Materials provided by SBCCOG state that because the Los Angeles region has
severe congestion and poor air quality, reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) caused by
transportation is a high priority. The Framework seeks to address these environmental and
quality-of-life concerns through three main components:
1. Climate Action Plan with transportation and land use chapters that identify
greenhouse gas reduction strategies
2. A Mobility Matrix that would provide a tool for evaluating and screening priority
sustainable transportation projects for implementation.
3. Regional Implementation toolkit to provide technical assistance for local level
adoption.
SBCCOG materials state that the Framework will help advance regional coordination and
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SUSTAINABLE SOUTH BAY TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE IMPLEMENTATION
February 18, 2014
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allow for the coordinated implementation of environmentally-conscious policies and
procedures. This proposed Framework would align with the existing sub-regional policy
agenda, which includes an active transportation program, climate action planning, and an
energy-efficient municipal project implementation.
Goals of the Framework include:
• Promotion of public health by working with the zero emission initiatives of the South
Bay Highway Program
• Improve Infrastructure systems through local and sub-regional land-use strategies
• Reduce automobile usage and fuel consumption
The SBCCOG has requested a signed letter of support by February 20, 2014 .
FISCAL IMPACT
Authorizing a letter of support has no discernible financial impact.
ATTACHMENTS:
Draft Letter of Support
SBCCOG Proposal Summary
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February 18, 2014
Mike McCoy
Executive Director
Strategic Growth Council
c/o Sustainable Communities Planning
1400 Tenth Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Mr. McCoy:
I am writing to request your support for the South Bay Cities Council of
Governments (SBCCOG) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (Metro) joint application proposal for creating a Sustainable South Bay
Transportation and Land Use Implementation Framework. Specifically, this proposed
framework aligns with a sub-regional sustainability policy agenda, which includes an
active transportation program, climate action planning, energy efficiency municipal
project implementation and a Sustainable South Bay land use and transportation
strategy. Additionally, the framework will build on the initial work of the Caltrans
Smart Mobility Framework, which has created a model for project development in
the South Bay -one of only two locations selected by Caltrans in the State.
With this funding, SBCCOG will be able to take these separate plans and,
using the Caltrans Smart Mobility Framework, the SCAG Urban Footprint and Travel
Models, and the San Diego State University Innovative Transportation Calculator,
provide cities with innovative tools to implement the most cost effective and
sustainable projects while also promoting mobility, improving public health and
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Both the SBCCOG and Metro are committed to improving the environment,
transportation alternatives, the economy, and the quality of life for residents in the
South Bay's 16 cities and the County of Los Angeles. Funding this partnership
proposal, through the Communities Planning Grant and Incentives Program, will
assist in integrating best practices in sub-regional planning that will not only benefit
the South Bay, but will also serve as a model for built-out communities throughout
the State and will create an understanding and implementation framework for
neighborhood-oriented development.
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As an integral part of achieving its goals, this partnership proposal seeks to
advance policies that promote a variety of transportation strategies and zero
emission initiatives; improve infrastructure systems through sub-regional and local
transportation and land use strategies; and reduce automobile usage and fuel
consumption through alternative fuel vehicle readiness strategies. Additionally, this
proposed plan leverages the established regional partnership of the SBCCOG,
which has demonstrated effectiveness in working with its members as well as with
Metro to implement projects in our cities.
The proposed framework is a unique opportunity for the Strategic Growth
Council to fund a cutting edge application that will include implementation
opportunities for neighborhood-oriented development and comprehensive mobility
strategies, field-testing the SCAG models and Caltrans Smart Mobility Framework .
It will be replicable throughout the State.
As a member agency of the SBCCOG, we look forward to the Sustainable
South Bay Transportation and Land Use Implementation Framework, which we
believe will be an important tool for our city and others to use when implementing
projects. We urge you to support and fund this proposal.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Mayor
cc: City Council Members
City Manager
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The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and South Bay Cities Council of Governments
The Sustainable South Bay Transportation and Land Use Implementation Framework (2-13-14)
Proposal Summary
The Sustainable South Bay Transportation and Land Use Implementation Framework
(Framework) will provide the South Bay sub-region and cities a planning and implementation
tool for sustainable mobility and land use project and policy development. The Framework will
be developed through a partnership and regional collaboration between the Los Angeles
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), the South Bay Cities Council of
Governments (SBCCOG), San Diego State University (SDSU), the California Center for
Sustainable Energy (CCSE) and the Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and
Sustainability (LARC).
What the problem is and why it is important to address
The Los Angeles region is known for having some of the worst congestion and air quality in the
nation. Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector is one of the
greatest challenges that the South Bay sub-region of Los Angeles County faces in developing
sustainable communities. GHG emissions from transportation fuel account for at least 50% of
the emissions in most of the South Bay cities. In the baseline year 2005, the South Bay sub-
region produced 3,159,211 metric tons of C02 equivalent (M TC02e) emissions from
transportation fuel. These emissions are only projected to increase as, given its ideal location
both for residents and businesses, the South Bay population is estimated to grow by 9% and its
employment by 6% by 2035.
Located near the largest port complex in the nation and the Los Angeles International Airport,
and with beautiful coastlines and beaches, the sub-region serves as a major hub for goods
movement, businesses and tourism. However, the South Bay does not have the public transit,
the electric vehicle charging infrastructure or streets designed to support multiple modes of
transit to ensure that those living, working or visiting the South Bay have access to sustainable
alternatives to using~ high-emission vehicle. Integrating sustainable transportation solutions
with local land use planning will be integral to reducing emissions through improving access to
neighborhood services and jobs, expanding transit options, and developing the infrastructure
for zero-emissions vehicles.
Overview of the work being undertaken
To tackle these environmental, economic and quality of life challenges, the South Bay is
proposing to develop the Framework with a consistent and comprehensive set of tools to
evaluate and implement sustainable transportation and land use projects at both the sub-
regional and local levels.
The Framework will have three key components :
l. Climate Action Plan transportation and land use chapters that identify GHG reduction
strategies
2 . Mobility Matrix that will provide a tool for evaluating and screening priority sustainable
transportation projects for implementation
3. Regional Implementation Toolkit to provide technical assistance for local level adoption
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The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and South Bay Cities Council of Governments
The Sustainable South Bay Transportation and Land Use Implementation Framework (2-13-14)
The Framework will deliver an integrated and consistent approach for the sub-region and cities
to adopt sustainable transportation and land use policies and to maximize resources. The
analysis and development of the performance metrics will build on the initial work of the
Caltrans Smart Mobility (SMF) Framework and Southern California Association of Governments'
Urban Footprint scenario planning tool and Travel Model. These models will allow local planners
to dynamically understand the trade-offs, costs and benefits of various components of land use
and transportation project portfolios to optimize a comprehensive set of beneficial economic,
environmental, and social equity outcomes based on Metro's Countywide Sustainability
Planning Policy (CSPP) principles and priorities as well as the SBCCOG sub-regional priorities.
The proposed project will integrate the SBCCOG's existing work on neighborhood-oriented
development, a PEV readiness plan (with SCAG), Measure R South Bay Highway Program
Implementation Plan (with Metro), and Climate Action Planning along with the SCAG RTP/SCS,
Metro's Long Range Transportation Plan, and Metro's CSPP.
Characteristics of the populations served
The South Bay sub-region of Los Angeles County is characterized by three distinct suburban
communities: the beach cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach;
port/airport and aerospace-serving residential cities of Carson, El Segundo, Gardena,
Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Los Angeles, Torrance, and four unincorporated LA
County communities; and cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, including Palos Verdes Estates,
Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, and Rolling Hills Estates.
The cities in the South Bay range in size from just under 2,000 residents to nearly 150,000 to
make up a total of just over 900,000. The median income for the sub-region is $68,655 and the
housing units are evenly split between owner occupied and renter occupied with 52.2% and
47.8% respectively. Most trips are made with cars as the mode share for the sub-region is
83.90% automobiles, 9.70% walk, 5.30% transit and 1.10% bike.
The impact the proposed work will have on communities served
The Sustainable South Bay Framework will achieve the following priority goals:
• Promote public health by supplementing and integrating active transportation and zero
emission initiatives with the South Bay Highway Program of highway operational
improvements in the South Bay;
• Improve infrastructure systems through sub-regional and local tran~portation and land
use strategies;
• Reduce automobile usage and fuel consumption through a comprehensive active
transportation and alternative fuel vehicle readiness plan.
The Framework will ensure regional coordination and provide the tools for sub-regional and
local implementation of policies and projects that will result in, and protect, livable and healthy
communities for those who work, live and play in the South Bay. This goal will be achieved
through programs and projects that encourage the transition to zero-emission vehicles,
promote biking and walking, and improve access to jobs, housing and neighborhood services.
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