Date: June 10, 2021
Author(s): Shelly Quan
Abstract
The state of California has put forth multiple climate and planning objectives that underscore the importance of coordinating housing and transportation planning to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build sustainable communities. Several state agencies are individually responsible for developing policies, administering programs, and distributing funding to guide housing and/or transportation planning decisions. Policymaking will benefit from tools to identify and screen locations that present the most opportunity, vulnerability, or need for targeted investment. This research examines the extent to which California’s main government screening maps — CalEnviroScreen 3.0, Healthy Places Index, Opportunity Area, and Low-Income Priority Populations Maps — are used by different state agencies to direct housing and transportation resources to meet state objectives. To the extent that these maps represent climate and planning goals, the researcher examines housing production relative to the geographic prioritizations presented in each map as well as transportation characteristics of transit proximity and level of vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
About the Project
The State of California has multiple climate, equity, and planning objectives established in legislation and executive orders. There are several State agencies individually responsible for developing policies, administering programs, and distributing funding to guide land use, housing and/or transportation planning decisions that advance the State’s vision. Maps are key decision-making tools for these agencies. While the maps have similar purposes, they each reflect the responsibilities of their respective State agencies, and so may not support coordinated land use, transportation, and equity decisions required to achieve the State’s goals. This project will address the following questions: 1) To what extent do California State government maps guide planning and investment decisions that help meet climate and equity objectives? 2) How do these maps overlap or conflict and what opportunities might there be to coordinate agency efforts to improve or combine them to support the State’s goals?