Date: June 1, 2022
Author(s): Benjamin Bressette
Abstract
Since its passing in 2017, Senate Bill 1 (SB1) has launched thousands of infrastructure projects across the state. Over the next decade, this $54 billion investment will work to achieve safety improvements, reduce traffic delays, improve goods movement, and increase options for transit. Identifying their significant role in transportation, this report posits social equity and climate change response as the main goals and objectives of SB1 projects. After analyzing program data, this report refocuses on the Local Streets and Roads (LSR) program, explaining the role of local roads in individual transportation choices, as well as defining them as a site to advance social equity and climate change goals. This analysis shows that the LSR program largely does not address key components of advancing social equity and climate change responses. This report recommends four actions that Caltrans staff can do to improve the rigor of program evaluation across SB1: (1) Establish Evaluation Criteria across SB1; (2) Align SB1 and its Programs with Caltrans’ Strategic Plan; (3) Establish Social Equity and Climate Change Goals for the Local Streets and Roads Program and; (4) Improve Data Quality Throughout the SB1 Program.
About the Project
This capstone project was completed in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Master of Urban & Regional Planning at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.