via Transbay Blog
Gearing up to prepare the next update to the Regional Transportation Plan
(RTP), the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has been
evaluating a new policy framework to determine when a transportation
project is considered to be a regional commitment. Projects that are
committed will be included in the next RTP. Projects that are not
committed could be included, but they would first be subject to a
benefit-cost analysis and would have to be approved separately by the
Commission.
At what point is a project far enough along in the process to be “committed”? We looked before at the two policy choices that were being considered.
There is more detail in that previous post, but the brief recap is that
with “Option 1,” a project is committed if it has been environmentally
cleared, e.g. the project has an EIR certified under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). With “Option 2,” a project is not
committed until dirt has turned and construction is underway. Of these
two options, I supported Option 2 because it would expose commissioners
to a benefit-cost analysis for more projects, thereby empowering them
with greater discretion to decide whether even older projects are still
worthy of pursuit. The Planning Committee also supported Option 2 and
voted to move it forward to the full Commission.
more about regional planning:
It is not surprising that even when sitting on a regional board, commissioners are still elected local officials at heart, interested in moving projects forward with a minimum of delay and controversy. And the local project is the best and most cost-effective way to meet identified regional performance
ReplyDeleteurban planners