Even at its current size, the Bay Area confronts a number of pressing economic, environmental and social issues that will only worsen as the region’s population grows. Resolving these problems will require difficult choices.

What follows is a compendium of strategies and actions the region might pursue to ensure that future San Francisco Bay Area residents share equitably in the benefits of a healthy environment and strong economy. Some of the proposals may be implemented through individual action by local governments. Others require coordination between local agencies, or between government and the private and nonprofit sector. A number would require legislation at the federal or state level. A few of the proposals have already been adopted by individual communities.

None of the proposals need to be implemented precisely as described. However, if we are able to achieve a significant portion of these objectives, we will go a long way toward redirecting growth in a manner that will maintain the region’s prosperity while improving the quality of life for all its inhabitants for generations to come.