SACRAMENTO – On Monday, a measure authored by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) requiring the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to factor in our state’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals in future updates to the California Transportation Plan passed the legislature.
The legislation, Assembly Bill 285, will help ensure our transportation sector aligns with existing climate goals by requiring Caltrans to implement new measures in their future transportation plans, including: the development and improvement of grant programs, consideration of advanced and emerging technology, and environmental justice.
Transportation continues to be California’s greatest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions; direct emissions from the tailpipe of cars, trucks, off-road transportation sources, and more, accounted for 39% of the GHG inventory in 2016, a 2% increase from 2015.
Due to significant progress in the energy sector, California has already met the 2020 greenhouse gas emission reduction goals set by AB 32 (Pavley, 2016) ahead of schedule, however, this progress has been overshadowed and stalled by a lack of reductions in the transportation sector.
“California must hold state agencies accountable to our climate goals,” said Assemblymember Friedman. “If we are going to be serious about our commitment to emission reductions, we are going to need a culture change in how we plan our transportation infrastructure.”
The bill will also require the Strategic Growth Council to assess the implementation of Caltrans’ long-range planning document to help ensure the plan would keep the transportation sector on-track for target emission reductions.
The measure now heads to Governor Newsom for his signature. If signed into law, the bill will take effect on January 1, 2020.
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Laura Friedman represents the 43rd Assembly District which encompasses the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and La Cañada Flintridge, as well as the communities of La Crescenta and Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, Beachwood Canyon, Los Feliz, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, and Silver Lake.