Posted Thursday, November 29, 2012

SUCCESSFUL EL CERRITO GREEN STREETS PROJECT LEADS TO LARGER EFFORT ON SAN PABLO AVENUE

Water quality monitoring results taken from last year’s rainy season show that rain gardens constructed in El Cerrito in 2010 are doing the job they were built to do: removing pollutants from stormwater runoff. Urban stormwater runoff is a leading cause of pollution to local creeks and the San Francisco Bay. Analyses of water samples from before and after treatment in one of the rain garden cells show lowered amounts of common runoff pollutants, such as sediments, copper, PCBs, and pyrethroids (a chemical insecticide). These contaminants can harm aquatic habitats, kill the living things in those waters, and make the eating of certain types and amounts of fish caught in the Bay unhealthy.

In 2010, the San Francisco Estuary Partnership collaborated with the City of El Cerrito to install a series of rain gardens on the 11000 and 10200 blocks of San Pablo Avenue. Rain gardens are a type of “green infrastructure,” designed to capture and clean stormwater runoff using natural filtration and breakdown of pollutants by soils, microscopic animals in the soil, and plants. As the name suggests, the El Cerrito gardens are lushly planted, beautifying the streetscape with an array of mostly native plants. The State Water Resource Control Board’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund provided the funding for this project using money from the federal stimulus bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Next Step: San Pablo Avenue Green Stormwater Spine Project
The success of the El Cerrito rain gardens project has spurred an even more ambitious project along portions of San Pablo Avenue, a major East Bay thoroughfare- the San Pablo Avenue Green Stormwater Spine project, also known to locals as the “Spine Project.” The Spine Project will make green infrastructure retrofits to the right-of-way at selected San Pablo Avenue locations in Oakland, Emeryville, Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, San Pablo and Richmond. A variety of approaches will be used, including rain gardens, bio swales, and permeable paving, to demonstrate ways to treat runoff before it enters nearby creeks and waterways. The design process is underway with construction planned to begin in the late summer of 2013. The Estuary Partnership is managing the Spine Project, which is funded by the California Department of Transportation and grants from the Environmental Protection Agency, the California Natural Resources Agency, and the State Department of Water Resources.

For more information about these projects and green infrastructure, visit the San Francisco Estuary Partnership’s website at www.sfestuary.org.

The San Francisco Estuary Partnership (a program of the Association of Bay Area Governments) is a coalition of resource agencies, non-profits, citizens, and scientists working to protect, restore, and enhance water quality and fish and wildlife habitat in and around the San Francisco Bay Delta Estuary.

Posted Friday, October 19, 2012

Creating a Resilient Region – Protecting our Investments

ABAG Fall General Assembly, October 18, 2012
Speaker and Panel Presentations and Earthquake Recovery Toolkit

Jon Haveman, Chief Economist, Bay Area Council Economic Institute
www.abag.ca.gov/rss/pdfs/JonHaveman.pdf

Tom Tobin, President, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and Chris Poland, Chairman and Senior Principal, Degenkolb Engineers
www.abag.ca.gov/rss/pdfs/TomTobin.pdf

Local Government Panel: Regionwide Decision Making for Long-Term Disaster Recovery Planning
www.abag.ca.gov/rss/pdfs/ABAGLocalGovernmentPanel.pdf

Workshop: Making Post-Disaster Land Use Planning and Policy a Reality for Local Governments
www.abag.ca.gov/rss/pdfs/WorkshopmoderatedbySarahKarlinsky.pdf

Dr. Enrico Moretti, Economics Professor, UC Berkeley
Full Presentation can be found in his book The New Geography of Jobs

ABAG Earthquake Recovery Toolkit
http://quake.abag.ca.gov/resilience/toolkit/


Conference Agenda
http://www.abag.ca.gov/rss/pdfs/FallGeneralAssembly.pdf

Posted Monday, May 21, 2012

Bay Area Agencies Approve Preferred Land Use Scenario and
Transportation Investment Strategy

Plan Bay Area Links Local Aspirations with Goals for a Strong Economy, Healthy Environment and Social Equity

OAKLAND, CA, May 18, 2012... At a packed joint meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), officials voted last night to approve a draft long-range guide to the Bay Areas transportation, jobs and housing. The Preferred Land Use and Transportation Investment Strategy is a key milestone in developing the final Plan Bay Area, which is due for adoption in April 2013. MTC also voted to approve the One Bay Area Grants (OBAG) program, and ABAG approved a draft housing allocation methodology for Bay Area cities.

We’ve heard over and over that the publics top priorities are preserving the Bay Areas high quality of life and each community’s unique characteristics, said Ken Kirkey, ABAG planning director. Plan Bay Area will achieve these goals by strengthening the connection between housing, jobs and transportation, by growing jobs and the economy, and by ensuring stewardship of our regions spectacular scenic and natural resources. ABAG President and Napa County Supervisor Mark Luce added that these actions signify the strides we are making toward adopting a long range plan that links local aspirations with goals for a strong economy, healthy environment, and social equity.

The Preferred Land Use and Transportation Investment Strategy approved last night by MTC and ABAG steers Plan Bay Area to promote compact, mixed-use development that combines both residential and commercial uses and is located close to public transit, jobs, schools, shopping, parks, recreation and other amenities.

The approved One Bay Area Grants initiative is an incentive-based program designed to stimulate the production of housing in areas well-served by transportation, particularly public transit. It uses federal transportation dollars to reward jurisdictions that accept housing allocations through the states Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) process and that actually produce housing.

When completed, Plan Bay Area will be the regions 25-year blueprint for transportation, housing and land use policies and investments. California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375, Steinberg) requires that each of the states 18 Metropolitan Planning Organizations and in the Bay Area specifically MTC and ABAG develop a long-range plan to reduce per-capita greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. The Bay Area is required to reduce emissions by 7 percent by 2020 and by 15 percent by 2035. SB 375 also requires Plan Bay Area to include a strategy to house by 2035 all of the Bay Areas projected 25-year population growth, without displacing current low-income residents.

The Preferred Land Use and Transportation Investment Strategy will comprise the Plan Bay Area project alternative to be evaluated as part of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In December 2012, the agencies expect to release the draft Plan Bay Area and EIR, which will be followed by public hearings throughout the region. MTC and ABAG are due to adopt the final Plan Bay Area and certify the final EIR in April 2013.

In a separate action, ABAG voted last night to approve a draft Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) methodology. The methodology will be used to meet state requirements to include sufficient affordable housing for the Bay Areas projected population growth, so that people won’t have to commute to their jobs from homes outside the Bay Area. ABAG will take final action on the RHNA methodology at its July meeting.

MTC is the nine-county San Francisco Bay Areas transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency. ABAG is the council of governments and regional planning agency for the nine counties and 101 cities and towns of the San Francisco Bay region.

Posted Thursday, May 3, 2012
Growing Smarter Together Awards Presented to Distinguished Leader and Local Governments

The Association of Bay Area Governments’ (ABAG) Spring General Assembly featured the presentation of ABAG’s Sixth Annual Growing Smarter Together Awards, honoring the 2012 Distinguished Leader and recognizing four local government projects. Awardees include Distinguished Leader, San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson, the Alameda County Public Works Agency, the City of Union City, the Grand Boulevard Initiative, and the City of Palo Alto and Palo Alto Housing Corporation.

Distinguished Leadership Award: San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson
San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson was awarded the 2012 Distinguished Leadership award in recognition of her significant and continuing legacy of leadership and advocacy for regional and local issues. She has been a tireless advocate for public safety, reducing youth gun violence, improving public health, building affordable housing, creating jobs, and protecting the environment. A steward of the region, she provided incomparable leadership and commitment to securing a stable source of funding for ABAG and spearheaded a regional effort to reduce the proliferation of illegal guns in the hands of youth and policy recommendations to reduce the incidence of youth gun violence. She has been a champion of complete healthy communities, starting with her days on the city council in East Palo Alto, continuing as a San Mateo County Supervisor since 1999, as past ABAG President, as past chair of the regional Joint Policy Committee, and statewide through the California State Association of Counties, and nationally through the National Association of Counties. She is considered a model leader, with a quiet persistent style and a consummate diplomat, and coalition-builder.

Preserving and Protecting the Environment Award: Alameda County Public Works Agency for Streetlight Retrofit Project
The Streetlight Retrofit Project implemented by the Alameda County Public Works Agency was recognized for lowering the County’s environmental footprint and providing a savings of $180,000 per year in energy costs throughout unincorporated Alameda County. The replacement of nearly 7000 streetlights with Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures was done in record time, reducing energy use for a savings of 1.7 million kilowatt hours per year. Besides conserving energy and reducing lifecycle and maintenance costs, the LED
lights have improved night visibility and eliminated mercury, lead and other known hazards. This project also encompassed the Board of Supervisors’ vision of promoting the use of small and emerging businesses with 70% subcontractor participation.

Urban Design Award: Union City for Intermodal Station District Connection
The Intermodal Station District Connection created at Union City BART Station features a 25-foot-wide bicycle and pedestrian promenade. This specially designed thoroughfare connection extends from the west side of the Union City BART Station, through the Station and to the jobs center to the east on lands zoned for a Research and Development Campus (RDC)—an 80 acre area being developed on under-utilized and vacant industrial lands. This Priority Development Area (PDA) Intermodal Station District creates connections with the promenade spine linking 143 market rate units recently completed and 157 units of affordable housing under construction to business areas and intermodal transportation. Special features include sustainable, living landscapes and streetscapes, with glass canopies embedded with photovoltaic lenses surrounding station entrances.

Public Private Partnership Award: Grand Boulevard Initiative
The Grand Boulevard Initiative is a historic inter-jurisdictional partnership that encompasses the El Camino Real PDA which stretches from Daly City to San Jose. The vision is to transform an auto-centric strip into a series of walkable and bikeable urban neighborhoods with the vision that El Camino Real will become a Grand Boulevard linking communities to promote walking and transit and an improved and meaningful quality of life. Developed under the leadership of Russell Hancock, President/CEO of Joint Ventures Silicon Valley Network, and Michael Scanlon, Executive Director, San Mateo County Transit District, the Grand Boulevard Initiative Task Force is a model of public-private partnership. The Task Force includes the collaboration of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, 19 cities, ABAG, MTC and other state and regional agencies, the California Department of Transportation, the Valley Transportation Authority, SamTrans, two Congestion Management Agencies, businesses, non profits, neighborhood advocates, and community organizations. In collaboration, ten guiding principles were crafted and approved by all the local governments and other Task Force members to frame all local related projects: target housing and job growth in strategic areas; encourage compact development with high quality design; create multimodal and pedestrian-oriented settings with strong transit/bike/pedestrian connections; manage parking assets; provide lively public spaces; improve public safety and health; pursue sustainable development, while preserving the unique community character of the cities along the El Camino Real corridor.

On the Ground, Getting It Done Award: City of Palo Alto and the Palo Alto Housing Corporation
In partnership with the City of Palo Alto, The Palo Alto Housing Corporation (PAHC) completed the Tree House Apartments, a green, affordable 35 unit multi-family apartment building, receiving the highest green rating of all multi-family projects at affordable or market rate. Sustainable features include energy efficient heating and air systems, appliances, landscaping, and green construction methods. The Tree House Apartments offer special needs families, persons with disabilities, and persons transitioning from homelessness the choice of 33 studios and two one-bedroom affordable residential units. Residents are also provided with free VTA passes, and on-site services that include language skills, financial literacy and job-skills training. The city, which has partnered with PAHC since 1972, producing over 600 units of affordable rental housing, provided significant funding and assistance with permitting and review process to provide this outstanding example of affordable housing.

Posted Wednesday, April 25, 2012

2012 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Assessment:
Call for Local Government Participation in Survey

Local Government participation in the 2012 Statewide Needs Assessment Project is critically needed. This study is the only comprehensive and systematic statewide approach to quantify local streets and roads needs and will help efforts to protect transportation funds and promote the augmentation of funding for local street and road maintenance. Letters have been sent to all cities and counties, addressed to Public Works Directors, City/County Engineers, as well as Finance Directors to provide updates through an on-line survey on recent pavement condition data, safety, traffic and regulatory data, and funding/expenditure projections in the jurisdictions. To participate, go to www.SaveCaliforniaStreets.org and login to the online survey. The deadline for participation is May 15, 2012.

Many cities and counties contributed to funding this study, with the following agencies accepting the leadership responsibility for completing the 2012 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Assessment: California State Association of Counties, League of California Cities, County Engineers Association of California, County of Los Angeles, California Regional Transportation Planning Agencies, California Rural Counties Task Force, and Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). The project’s Oversight Committee is comprised of representatives from each organization, with MTC acting as Project Manager, and Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chtd. performing the update. For more information, go to www.SaveCaliforniaStreets.org or contact Theresa Romell, MTC Senior Planner, Project Manager, 510/817-5772.

Posted Friday, March 16, 2012

Click Here for the

JUST RELEASED:

Sustainable Communities Strategy Q&A Document

Posted Friday, February 3, 2012

Agencies Invite Public to Visit Virtual Workshop
To Guide Development of New Regional Plan

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) are asking members of the public for assistance in developing Plan Bay Area, a 25-year transportation investment and land-use strategy for the nine-county region from 2015 through 2040. The agencies have created an online virtual workshop for anyone who wants to weigh in on options and trade-offs from the convenience of their computer. People can visit the online workshop at http://www.onebayarea.org/workshops/virtual.htm.

The virtual workshop closely mirrors the format of a series of nine public forums held in January in every Bay Area county, and includes numerous opportunities to comment. Web visitors can watch several informational videos and take a few short surveys on their priorities for the Bay Area’s future housing and land use development, transportation investments and policies and more. The virtual workshop will be up and running through February 15, 2012.

“We want to hear from you, so make your opinion count,” said MTC Chair and San Mateo County Supervisor Adrienne Tissier. “The goal of Plan Bay Area is to make our region more livable for current and future generations, and we need public input to ensure we’re hearing from as many residents as possible.”

By creating the virtual workshop, MTC has stepped up its outreach effort for the Plan Bay Area process, which is scheduled to conclude in the spring of 2013. Plan Bay Area will be the region’s first transportation and land-use plan to incorporate the Sustainable Communities Strategy mandated by state Senate Bill 375, which was signed into law in 2008.

More than 1,000 people attended Plan Bay Area workshops in all nine counties in January 2012. An additional 150 people attended 10 focus groups held with community-based organizations (CBOs) throughout the region.

Survey results and comments from the virtual workshop will be tabulated and considered by MTC and ABAG decision makers — along with feedback gathered from workshops, CBO meetings, focus groups and a statistically valid telephone survey — at a meeting slated for March 9.

MTC is the transportation planning and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. ABAG is the official regional planning agency for the 101 cities and towns and nine counties of the Bay Area. For more information contact Kathleen Cha, ABAG Senior Communications Officer, (510) 464-7922.

News managed by NewsPro.

Visit our News Archives (dating back to January 1997)