SB 375

Under SB 375, 18 different regions across the state will need to develop what are called Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCSs).

The purpose of the SCS is to articulate a regional plan for how to reach an explicit Greenhouse Gas reduction target from cars and light trucks, primarily through changes to land use and transportation patterns.

The targets for each region will be set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in fall 2010. Each region must consider the SCS as an alternative in its Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and, if the SCS meets the CARB mandated target, the region is required to adopt the SCS. Once a region has an SCS in place, transportation funding decisions will be linked to meeting the GHG reduction target. Additionally, SB 375 contains new requirements around Housing Element law that will lead to significant shifts in land use patterns. SB 375 also plays an important agenda setting role.

For climate protection advocates, opponents of sprawl, and proponents of equitable, livable communities it provides a goal around which to organize and build coalitions. For regional agencies and local governments, SB 375 sends a powerful message about the kinds of land use and transportation patterns the State would prefer to invest its limited infrastructure dollars. We hope to ensure the most socially equitable and environmentally sustainable outcome from the SB375 process through our land use programmatic work with the Great Communities Collaborative and the Transportation Justice Program (including work in Congestion Pricing and Equity, Targeted Outreach & Public Education, and Regional Transportation and Climate Change Policy).