BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 842|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 842
Author: Jones (D), et al
Amended: 8/13/08 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 9-3, 6/17/08
AYES: Lowenthal, Cedillo, Corbett, Kehoe, Maldonado,
Oropeza, Simitian, Torlakson, Yee
NOES: McClintock, Ashburn, Harman
NO VOTE RECORDED: Hollingsworth
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 9-6, 8/7/08
AYES: Torlakson, Cedillo, Corbett, Florez, Kuehl, Oropeza,
Ridley-Thomas, Simitian, Yee
NOES: Cox, Aanestad, Ashburn, Dutton, Runner, Wyland
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 47-28, 1/28/08 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Reducing vehicle miles traveled through
regional
transportation plans and Proposition 1C
programs
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the Department of Housing and
Community Development, when ranking applications for
funding under the Infill Incentive Grant Program and the
Transit Oriented Development Implementation Program, to
award preference or priority to projects located in areas
CONTINUED
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where the local or regional entity has adopted a general
plan, transportation plan, or regional blueprint that will
reduce the growth of vehicle miles traveled by at least 10
percent, and the project is consistent with that planning
document.
ANALYSIS :
Regional Transportation Plans
Current law requires the regional transportation planning
agencies (RTPAs) to adopt regional transportation plans
(RTPs) directed at achieving a coordinated and balanced
regional transportation system, including, but not limited
to, mass transportation, highway, railroad, maritime,
bicycle, pedestrian, goods movement, and aviation
facilities and services. The RTP must contain a policy
element, an action element, and a financial element and is
the source for projects programmed in the regional
transportation improvement plan, which lists all capital
improvement projects that are expected to receive an
allocation of state transportation funds during the
following five fiscal years. The California Transportation
Commission adopts guidelines that help RTPAs meet their RTP
obligations.
This bill requires the California Transportation Commission
to update its guidelines for the preparation of RTPs,
including, but not limited to, a requirement that each RTP
provide for a 10 percent reduction in the growth increment
of vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
Proposition 1C Programs
In November 2006, California voters approved Proposition
1C, the $2.85 billion Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust
Fund Act of 2006. The bond act includes $850 million for
the Infill Incentive Grant Program, which is administered
by the Department of Housing and Community Development
(HCD). This program provides grants for infrastructure
necessary to support new higher-density infill housing. In
rating and ranking applications under this program, HCD
must use all of the following priorities:
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1. Project readiness.
2. The depth and duration of the housing affordability.
3. The extent to which the project density exceeds the
housing element density standards.
4. The inclusion of, or proximity or accessibility to, a
transit station or major transit stop.
5. The proximity to parks, employment or retail centers,
schools, or social services.
6. Consistency with an adopted regional blueprint plan or
other adopted regional growth plan intended to foster
efficient land use.
Proposition 1C also includes $300 million for the Transit
Oriented Development Housing Program, administered by HCD,
which provides grants and loans to facilitate the
development of higher density housing within close
proximity to transit stations that will increase public
transit ridership. In rating and ranking applications
under this program, HCD must consider the extent to which
the development will increase public transit ridership and
minimize automobile trips. HCD must also grant bonus
points to developments that are consistent with regional
growth blueprints.
This bill:
1. Requires HCD to use the following as ranking criteria
under the Infill Incentive Grant Program and to grant a
substantial preference for the following under the
Transit Oriented Development Housing Program:
A. The project's location in a city, county, or city
and county that has adopted a general plan that will
reduce the growth increment in VMT by at least 10
percent and the project is consistent with the plan.
B. The project's location in a region that has
adopted a transportation plan, an RTP, a regional
blueprint, or similar document that will reduce the
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growth increment in VMT by at least 10 percent and
the project is consistent with the plan, blueprint,
or similar document.
2. Requires HCD to rely upon the expertise of the
Department of Transportation in ranking the
applications.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2008-09 2009-10
2010-11 Fund
HCD admin: VMT $237 $43 $43 Bond*
assessments
* Split evenly between the Regional Planning,
Housing, and Infill Incentive Account and Transit
Oriented Development Fund (Proposition 1C).
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/13/08)
American Federation of State, Municipal and County
Employees
American Lung Association
Breathe California
California League of Conservation Voters
City of Sacramento
Gray Panthers
Pacific Gas and Electric
Planning and Conservation League
Sacramento Area Council of Governments
Sierra Club California
Southern California Edison
OPPOSITION : (Verified 8/13/08)
Department of Finance
Department of Housing and Community Development
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Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Agency
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
California faces a great challenge in the coming years to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The measurement of VMT is
useful in that it correlates to the amount of time each
household spends in its vehicles and is a proxy for
progress in improving land use planning. VMT is a
widely-used barometer that encompasses items such as infill
development, jobs close to housing, shorter commute times,
better public systems, and many more important quality of
life factors. Reducing VMT closely correlates with the
state goals of improving air quality, reducing congestion,
reducing sprawl, developing energy independence, and
preserving open space.
This bill seeks to direct Proposition 1C funds allocated to
infill and transit oriented development more towards
regions, cities, and counties that have prepared land use
plans that will reduce the growth in VMT by 10 percent.
This bill creates an incentive for cities and counties to
adopt more environmentally friendly general plans and
encourage their regional council of governments to do
likewise for the region.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : The Department of Finance
opposes this bill for the following reasons:
"The changes made by this bill affecting the Infill
Incentive Program and Transit Oriented Development
program appear inconsistent with the intent of these
programs. Specifically:
The Infill Infrastructure Grant program provides
funding for projects that are generally difficult to
finance. Specifying additional rating and ranking
criteria may make it more difficult to finance infill
projects.
The Transit Oriented Development program was intended
to provide incentives to build housing near transit
stations, thus reducing motor vehicle traffic. It
appears inconsistent to include an applicants
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residency within an area with a general plan that
already includes a reduction of vehicle miles traveled
as rating and ranking criteria for a program designed
to incentivize motor vehicle traffic reduction.
This bill would not create a level playing field for
local governments that do not currently have general
plans that include a reduction in the growth increment
of vehicle miles traveled.
If an opportunity is provided to local governments to
amend general plans, modifying the rating and ranking
criteria would delay award of Proposition 1C bond
funds. This would delay housing projects that should
reduce vehicle miles driven due to the proximity of
the housing to employment and/or transit."
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Arambula, Bass, Beall, Berg, Blakeslee, Brownley,
Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter, Coto, Davis, De La
Torre, De Leon, DeSaulnier, Dymally, Eng, Evans, Feuer,
Fuentes, Hancock, Hayashi, Hernandez, Huffman, Jones,
Karnette, Krekorian, Laird, Leno, Levine, Lieber, Lieu,
Ma, Mendoza, Mullin, Nava, Parra, Portantino, Price,
Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Solorio, Strickland, Swanson,
Torrico, Wolk, Nunez
NOES: Adams, Aghazarian, Anderson, Benoit, Berryhill,
Cook, Duvall, Emmerson, Fuller, Gaines, Garcia, Garrick,
Horton, Houston, Huff, Jeffries, Keene, La Malfa, Maze,
Nakanishi, Niello, Plescia, Silva, Smyth, Spitzer, Tran,
Villines, Walters
NO VOTE RECORDED: DeVore, Galgiani, Sharon Runner, Soto,
Vacancy
JJA:mw 8/13/08 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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