The California Air Resources Board is in the midst of hosting 7 special meetings across the state to solicit public input on the Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds Second Investment Plan. Drafted every three years, the plan will outline how the state should prioritize funding to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals and "additional health, economic, and environmental benefits" for fiscal years 2016-17 through 2018-19.
As we all know, there is no cleaner, greener, or healthier form of transportation than walking or biking (aka "active transportation). When paired with planned and future investments in public transit, active transportation infrastructure has tremendous potential to help CA reduce GHG emissions while simultaneously positively impacting the state's most pressing health concerns, including obesity-related disease and mortality. However, despite being truly "zero-emission", investment levels in bike and pedestrian improvements has been limited at best.
Take Action: 8/12 Meeting, Online Comments
On Wednesday, August 12, the one and only meeting in Los Angeles County will be held in downtown Los Angeles. The meeting will include a staff overview of the initial draft for investment priorities and then allow for members of the public to provide suggestions. BikeSGV will be submitting the below-listed key points, given the growing demand for safe, comfortable infrastructure for walking and biking and currently inadequate levels of funding for such investments. Please join us, or submit comments online by September 1st here.
What: CA Air Resources Board - Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds Meeting
When: Wednesday 8/12 (6 PM - 9 PM)
Where: Junipero Serra Building, 320 W. 4th St (at Broadway), Los Angeles, CA 90013
More info and link to submit online comments here
Key Points
- Allocate cap-and-trade funding directly into the CA Active Transportation Program, which provides incredibly cost-effective GHG reductions and is already set up with disadvantaged community set-asides consistent with SB 535.
- Increase cap-and-trade funding levels for active transportation given the current over-subscription of the CA-ATP program, increasing demand for such investments across the state, and the many health co-benefits of more physically active lifestyles.
- Better Integrate active transportation into appropriate programs so that significant walking and biking improvements are provided as part of housing and transit projects.
