Len Conly
03-28-2007, 11:06 PM
WIDENING HWY 101 WILL INCREASE VMT AND GHG EMISSIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
California is the twelfth largest source of greenhouse gas emission in the world. 41% of California’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. California recently adopted landmark legislation, AB32, which commits the state to the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
This widening of Highway 101, funded with $22 million from the MTC, will increase Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by facilitating increased driving in California. The total cost of the project is expected to be $150 million.
Transportation already accounts for one third of US CO2 emissions, with personal vehicle use approximately 60% of that. Climate protection will likely require that total US GHG emissions be at or below 1990 levels by 2020; current transportation emissions are 27% above 1990 levels. Unfortunately the problem is expected to get worse.: the US DOE forecasts that Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) will increase by 60% between 2005 and 2030, while the fleet CO2 emission rate decreases by only 12%. The net result is that passenger vehicle CO2 emissions are expected to increase by another 40% by 2030.
The Joint Policy Committee (JPC), which coordinates the regional planning efforts of ABAG, MTC, BAAQMD, and BCDC, presented climate models at a Regional Climate Change Workshop in Oakland, CA on February 16, 2007 predicting sea level rise due to climate change of 1 meter. With that rise in sea level, SFO and Oakland International Airport will be underwater. See http://www.abag.ca.gov/jointpolicy/.
According to the MTC, vehicle emissions in the San Francisco Bay Area will have almost doubled during the period from 1990 - 2030.
1990 Average Daily Weekday VMT - 107,707,600
2030 Average Daily Weekday VMT - 202,756,400
See chart of San Francisco Bay Area, 1990-2030 Average Weekday Daily Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT)
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/maps_and_data/datamart/stats/vmt.htm
It is time to stop the construction of freeways and adding freeway lanes in order to mitigate congestion. The MTC should be re-allocating highway funds to transit projects which will help us reach the goal of reducing greenhouse emissions. Facilitating more auto travel will not do this. In order to cope with global warming, MTC must come up with policies to reduce VMT in the Bay Area.
Len Conly, Co-Chair
Friends of BRT
www.friendsofbrt.org
Friends of BRT is a citizens’ advocate group promoting Bus Rapid Transit in the Bay Area.
California is the twelfth largest source of greenhouse gas emission in the world. 41% of California’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. California recently adopted landmark legislation, AB32, which commits the state to the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
This widening of Highway 101, funded with $22 million from the MTC, will increase Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by facilitating increased driving in California. The total cost of the project is expected to be $150 million.
Transportation already accounts for one third of US CO2 emissions, with personal vehicle use approximately 60% of that. Climate protection will likely require that total US GHG emissions be at or below 1990 levels by 2020; current transportation emissions are 27% above 1990 levels. Unfortunately the problem is expected to get worse.: the US DOE forecasts that Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) will increase by 60% between 2005 and 2030, while the fleet CO2 emission rate decreases by only 12%. The net result is that passenger vehicle CO2 emissions are expected to increase by another 40% by 2030.
The Joint Policy Committee (JPC), which coordinates the regional planning efforts of ABAG, MTC, BAAQMD, and BCDC, presented climate models at a Regional Climate Change Workshop in Oakland, CA on February 16, 2007 predicting sea level rise due to climate change of 1 meter. With that rise in sea level, SFO and Oakland International Airport will be underwater. See http://www.abag.ca.gov/jointpolicy/.
According to the MTC, vehicle emissions in the San Francisco Bay Area will have almost doubled during the period from 1990 - 2030.
1990 Average Daily Weekday VMT - 107,707,600
2030 Average Daily Weekday VMT - 202,756,400
See chart of San Francisco Bay Area, 1990-2030 Average Weekday Daily Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT)
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/maps_and_data/datamart/stats/vmt.htm
It is time to stop the construction of freeways and adding freeway lanes in order to mitigate congestion. The MTC should be re-allocating highway funds to transit projects which will help us reach the goal of reducing greenhouse emissions. Facilitating more auto travel will not do this. In order to cope with global warming, MTC must come up with policies to reduce VMT in the Bay Area.
Len Conly, Co-Chair
Friends of BRT
www.friendsofbrt.org
Friends of BRT is a citizens’ advocate group promoting Bus Rapid Transit in the Bay Area.