The document discusses how SB 375, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks through coordinated transportation and land use planning, will impact Western Riverside County. It notes that while some view the legislation with confusion or fear, there are reasons to be confident in planning for the expected growth in the region. Specifically, demographic trends support denser, more transit-oriented development. Coordinated planning through existing frameworks like the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee program and habitat conservation plans can help the region proactively shape growth rather than reacting to it. Political leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and long-term commitment will be key to successfully implementing denser development under SB 375's goals.

1. SB 375
What does it mean for Western Riverside County?
Leonard Transportation Center Forum
May 22, 2009
Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, CA
Rick Bishop
Executive Director
bishop@wrcog.cog.ca.us
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

2. Several ways to get to VMT reductions…
1. Land use changes
2. Transportation investments
3. Transportation policies TDM -strategies to impact driving habits
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

3. How are we reacting to SB 375 thus far?
1. Freaking out 2. Asleep
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

4. 3. Asleep but appearing to pay attention
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

5. How should we be reacting?
1. Perplexed/confused 2. Confident
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

6. Why perplexed / confused?
1. Currently no sanctions against “non-conforming” SCS
2. The “Alternative Planning Scenario” (?)
3. Uncertain whether all jurisdictions need to comply with SCS
4. Uncertain about scope of what’s needed to reach targets
5. RHNA linkage
6. No funding for SCS preparation
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

7. Why confident?
1. We know where we will end up…
• WRCOG subregion will grow by 1.1 million by 2035
• 40,000 new residents each year…
It is foolish to act / plan as if it won’t happen…
… the key is whether we can frontload the evolution.
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

8. Why confident?
2. The majority of future households will be comprised of:
- Single-parent households
The traditional two-
- Baby boomers parent household
- Empty-nesters with
children is now less
- Couples without children than a quarter of the
population and
getting proportionally
smaller.
(Higher Density Development Myth and
Fact – Urban Land Institute)
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

9. Why confident?
3. Signs point to greater acceptance among WRCOG residents of a
changed land use mix in future
42% expressed interest in living in a transit village in the next 2 years
14% “very interested”
Source: WRCOG survey, 2007
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

10. TOD Demonstration Project Study generated significant interest
RIVERSIDE
MARCH JPA
CORONA
PERRIS
HEMET
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

11. What’s TUMF got to do with it?
- Western Riverside Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee
(TUMF) Program
- Largest multi-jurisdictional transportation fee program in
United States
- Will provide nearly $5 billion for improvements to WRCOG-area
arterials, interchanges, intersections
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

12. 600,000 MORE JOBS IN WESTERN RIVERSIDE BY 2035
- Could result in a significant commute shift in the region as thousands of
freeway trips to coastal counties will be reduced in length or eliminated;
- BUT, those trips will be redistributed among the subregion’s local roads
and arterials;
- If not planned for, could be a disaster for the subregion’s internal
arterial system.
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

13. Western Riverside Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan
• will conserve 153,000 acres of habitat
• de facto densification of the subregion?
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

14. Some observations in general…
1. With 6 million more people coming (and 2 million more homes) we
shouldn’t need SB 375 to help us “re-think” our planning
approaches.
2. Greenhouse gas discussions here to stay
“Environment vs. Economy” argument is weakening
3. What has “worked” in the past probably won’t in the future
- changing demographics
- transportation policies / priorities
- water availability
- energy constraints and costs
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

15. Be confident… but realistic
Existing transportation network / policies Mistrust
of government Anti-growth NIMBY
fear Community mind set Parochialism
RESISTANCE TO HIGHER DENSITY No vision Lack
of positive media Unpredictability of
public financing No sense of
urgency…
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

16. “Can Western Riverside get ahead of the urban
evolutional process and build TOD’s and higher densities
NOW rather than waiting?”
It needs to.
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us

17. Four point plan for success
1. Political leadership is vital
2. Proactive planning among private and public sectors
3. Multi-agency cooperation
4. Need to stay the course
www.wrcog.cog.ca.us