PUBLICATION

MTI Report 01-18
The California General Plan Process and Sustainable Transportation Planning

This research project assesses California’s General Plan process as a tool for implementing sustainable development, with particular emphasis on transportation systems at the local level, including the relationship of local transportation systems to regional and statewide systems. The emphasis on local transportation follows from the fact that California law requires General Plans, master plans of anticipated future physical development, only for local governments, i.e. California’s 58 counties and nearly 500 cities

ABSTRACT

This study reviewed the current and potential utility of California’s General Plan process as a tool for promoting more sustainable local transportation systems The study used multiple methods to investigate this issue, including: 

An extensive literature review on California’s General Plan process, the nature of sustainability and sustainable transportation, and criteria and evaluation methods for plans. Detailed analysis and scoring of policies from 26 exemplary General Plans against criteria designed to measure both transport sustainability and plan quality. In-depth case studies of the General Plan process in seven diverse California communities. 

Key informant interviews.

The results of these several lines of analysis and inquiry were synthesized into a series of observations, conclusions and recommendations. Chief among these are the desirability of encouraging more frequent General Plan updates, the need for greater emphasis on implementation of plan policies, and the need for and utility of educational and outreach efforts aimed at enhancing the proliferation of General Plan policies that promote more sustainable transportation systems at the local level.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

TECHNICAL