North County projects get piece of larger transit grant pie
A $24 million grant to help pay for safety improvements to local trains, plus millions more for preliminary work on replacing several rail bridges in coastal North County, were part of $902 million in federal transportation grants that will be coming to California. ...
SOLANA BEACH: City report blasts I-5 studies
State and federal studies examining the environmental effects of the Interstate 5 expansion project are "so fundamentally inadequate" and "woefully" incomplete that they should be sent back for extensive revisions, a recently released Solana Beach city staff report concluded. The city report .. is perhaps the strongest attack yet from a government agency on the multibillion-dollar freeway widening project. ... ...
2009 American Community Survey show major declines in carpooling, significant increases in biking Just how effective have new investments in transit been in promoting a shift of Americans towards public transportation? Has the recent livable communities movement resulted in increased commuting by bike or by foot? The Census' American Community Survey, released at the end of September with the most recent 2009 data, provides a glimpse of what can change over nine years....
As boomers age, 1 in 5 drivers will be oldsters Remember "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena"? Baby boomers who first danced to that 1964 pop hit about a granny burning up the road in her hot rod will begin turning 65 in January. Experts say keeping those drivers safe and mobile is a challenge with profound implications. ...
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Move San Diego Scores
HUGE Victory for Transit
On June 27, 2011, the San Diego City Council voted to support it’s Land Use and Housing Committee comment letter to SANDAG on the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan Update, urging for a “transit first” approach over highway expansion in order to reduce vehicle miles traveled.
In a groundbreaking policy move of an unprecedented nature, Council member Sherri Lightner, the LU&H Chairwoman, demonstrated incredible courageous leadership by holding her ground against any amendments to weaken the pro-transit policy position. “If we don’t make transit a priority, than quite frankly, it will not be a priority, and that is unacceptable to me,” said Council member Lightner. Council member Alvarez who seconded the motion to approve said, “We have to recognize that we will have a different reality in the Future, we should prioritize transit movement of people over automobiles.” Alvarez ended his time with this impactful statement: “We don’t need 20th century solutions for 21st century problems.”
Alvarez’s statement is notable as the region looks to add 1.3 million people over the next 40 year, with the City of San Diego absorbing half the growth in existing urban areas.
Councilmember Marti Emerald also supported the motion. “Here’s an opportunity to change the culture of this region. To get people to park their cars and take a train or take a bus , rapid transit bus, an express bus, clean up the environment and clean up the freeways and cut costs all the way around. This is our opportunity today,” said Emerald. Council President Tony Young, provided a powerful voice by saying “ I do believe this supports a balanced approach, it just says that we need to really focus more on transit then in the past. He concluded his remarks showing support for new for Transit Oriented Development opportunities.
The Move San Diego takeaway from the meeting is that seemingly everyone wants much of the same- traffic reduction, AND transportation choices. Where we all get hung up however is with project “phasing” priority. With 72% of the proposed transit budget in the last half of the forty year plan, we feel that there is much room for improvement. We applaud the Council’s leadership to find further balance in this long term plan.
Look out – the MOVE Alliance
(Mobility Options Viable for Everyone)
is coming your way!
To help promote transit-oriented and sustainable development, Move San Diego is forming the MOVE Alliance to launch a Sustainable Development Endorsement Program.
Alliance partners include the San Diego Council of Urban Design Professionals, Walk San Diego, and California Center for Sustainable Energy, as well as individual experts in transportation, planning and architecture.
The Alliance endorsement will recognize proposed projects that demonstrate a commitment to creating, preserving and enhancing sustainable transit-oriented communities in the San Diego region. Residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects are eligible for this endorsement, and all projects will be evaluated on the same comprehensive set of principles, including (but not limited to):
Access to high-performing transit,
Project density,
Use of smart growth techniques,
Pedestrian and bicycle accessibility, and
Proximity to employment.
Projects that pass the review of the MOVE Alliance jury will receive a host of benefits, including permission to use the Alliance’s “seal of recognition,” a formal letter of recognition from the Alliance members, publicity and exposure through a press release, website recognition and recognition at Move San Diego events, as well as independent testimony at public hearings of decision-making bodies explaining the endorsement program and why the proposed project qualified for sustainable transit-oriented endorsement.
This is a very exciting program. Check back regularly for more information and updates!
The train has not left the station! Transit and Move San Diego have a chance to lead the way in the new Sustainable Communities Strategy.
In 2008, the Senate passed SB 375, a bill designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state of California by creating regional emission reduction levels set by the California Air Resources Board. The aim of the bill is to reduce emissions by changing land use planning under a new required element of the Regional Transportation Plan, the Sustainable Community Strategy.
By encouraging more compact development near urban and transit centers, we can reduce urban sprawl, encourage better transportation practices and reduce overall vehicle miles traveled (i.e. driving), thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
To strengthen our voice in this public process, Move San Diego is in the process of creating an ambitious coalition that will drive transportation policy in the 21st century toward livable, transit oriented communities. We aim to bring together advocates from labor, low income, senior, housing , technology, business, environment, public health, real estate and development sectors to build a platform for supporting the Sustainable Communities Strategy.
Check back to learn more about the San Diego Regional Coalition for Transit Solutions, or call us to see how you can help.
What if you could hit the open road right here in the city?
Open to more transit and bicycles.
Open to more carpooling.
Open to saving money on gas.
Traffic and High Energy Costs are Problems.
Transit is a Solution.
Transportation choices like walking, biking, telecommuting and transit let you do what you need to do while reducing traffic congestion and pollution. An efficient and convenient transportation system connects all the options together, making life easier and more productive.
What is Move San Diego?
Move San Diego is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to the preservation of San Diego’s environment through the design of sustainable transportation, smart transit and improved infrastructure. We aspire to be the trusted public voice for sustainable transportation. Through proactive and constructive work with the public and relevant agencies, we will help to shape our region’s transportation plans. Move San Diego emerged from a unique alliance between the business and environmental communities to improve regional quality of life, support better development, and reduce the impacts of congestion on people and the environment in San Diego County.
Great Places Have Great Transit
Studies show that most successful metro areas have great transit systems. Cities such as Washington D.C.; Paris, France; San Francisco; and Brisbane, Australia have proven that a well-designed transit system can work.
The Benefits of Good Transit
Reduces traffic congestion and frees up parking
Saves time and money
Enables economic growth and productivity
Good for the environment and health
Gets people to work quickly and reliably
Creates new real estate value
New Developments
Move San Diego's FAST Plan and the FTA
Performance-based transit planning and San Diego Move SD's FAST Plan is the result of applying global best planning practices to the San Diego region. Read about it in this Appendix to a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) study on this important topic.
