California Regional Blueprint Planning Program Sharon Scherzinger, Marilee Mortenson, Jake Smith and Mahmoud Mahdavi Jake Smith and Mahmoud Mahdavi California Department of Transportation Planning Horizons Sacramento, California September 12, 2006

2 Outline What is the genesis of this effort? What is the genesis of this effort? What pioneering efforts did we consider? What pioneering efforts did we consider? What are our goals, objectives and desired outcomes? What are our goals, objectives and desired outcomes? How are we working to bring about the implementation of this approach? How are we working to bring about the implementation of this approach? What have been the noted challenges? What have been the noted challenges? What have been the initial results? What have been the initial results?

3 Genesis Increasing congestion Increasing congestion Uncoordinated relationships – transportation, land use, jobs, housing, environment Uncoordinated relationships – transportation, land use, jobs, housing, environment Need to protect and preserve sensitive habitats Need to protect and preserve sensitive habitats Limited financial resources Limited financial resources Dwindling opportunities to make long- term sustainable planning decisions Dwindling opportunities to make long- term sustainable planning decisions

4 Pioneering Efforts Merced Partnership for Integrated Planning Merced Partnership for Integrated Planning Riverside Integrated Planning Project Riverside Integrated Planning Project SANDAG Regional Comprehensive Plan SANDAG Regional Comprehensive Plan SACOG Regional Blueprint SACOG Regional Blueprint Other state and regional efforts – Florida, Portland, Boulder, Edmonton Other state and regional efforts – Florida, Portland, Boulder, Edmonton

5 Riverside County’s Solution Key Elements with Benefits for All Key Elements with Benefits for All Conservation (MSHCP) Protects more than 150 species Conserves more than 500,000 acres Transportation (CETAP) Four new corridors and new transit options Land Use (General Plan) Blueprint for future homes, businesses and schools

6 Merced PIP Outcomes Model process Model process New tools - Better projects New tools - Better projects Better integrate land use, transportation & environmental planning Better integrate land use, transportation & environmental planning Better understand agency goals & roles Better understand agency goals & roles Investigate incentives for early involvement of stakeholders Investigate incentives for early involvement of stakeholders

7 SANDAG Regional Comprehensive Plan

8 Sacramento Area Council of Governments - Blueprint The Blueprint will improve local planning and create a long-range regional context for local decision making… A comprehensive regional process integrating land use and transportation, air quality and other regional concerns A comprehensive regional process integrating land use and transportation, air quality and other regional concerns Neighborhood workshops with real-time interactive state- of-the-art geographic information systems (Place3s) that create future scenarios used for decision making Neighborhood workshops with real-time interactive state- of-the-art geographic information systems (Place3s) that create future scenarios used for decision making Outlines the future effects of the scenarios on housing, land consumption, environment and traffic impacts Outlines the future effects of the scenarios on housing, land consumption, environment and traffic impacts

9 Each effort has tried to unite traditionally competing interests behind a single growth plan with benefits for all. Each effort has tried to unite traditionally competing interests behind a single growth plan with benefits for all. Achieving overall support requires a keen understanding of the complex political process, including issues and participants. Achieving overall support requires a keen understanding of the complex political process, including issues and participants. Effective communication and collaboration is key to properly frame the debate. That is, the project is not a reactionary approach to growth related problems; it’s a proactive solution that will improve quality of life now and in the future. Effective communication and collaboration is key to properly frame the debate. That is, the project is not a reactionary approach to growth related problems; it’s a proactive solution that will improve quality of life now and in the future. Finding Common Ground Was Key To Success

10 Overview-California Regional Blueprint Planning Program Regional Framework for Collaboration Federal and State levels provide forums, funding and guidance Federal and State levels provide forums, funding and guidance Regions have transportation planning process, corridor and landscape scale vantage point, framework for convening stakeholders Regions have transportation planning process, corridor and landscape scale vantage point, framework for convening stakeholders Local level makes land use decisions Local level makes land use decisions Community level provides public input on needs and desires Community level provides public input on needs and desires

11 Regional Blueprint Planning A State initiative to promote:  Linking land use, transportation, housing, environment, economic development, equity  Consensus on preferred growth scenario - “Blueprint” - for each region identifies transportation impacts of land use  A more efficient and effective transportation system  Sufficient housing supply to accommodate population growth in each region

12 Strategic Growth Plan

13 Desired Outcomes Regional blueprint plans for land use patterns and transportation systems that:  Improve mobility  reduce auto dependency, congestion  increase transit use, walking and bicycling  Land use  encourage infill development  accommodate sufficient housing supply  minimize impacts on farmland and habitat  Establish a better process for public engagement in planning

14 Regional Blueprint Planning Comprehensive, Collaborative, Integrated Housing Planning Environmental Planning Transportation Planning Land Use Planning Regional Blueprint Plan & Better Tools Regional Blueprint Planning Public Engagement

15 Land Use Scenarios

16 Performance Measures

17 Challenges Long-term planning horizon Long-term planning horizon Labor (and cost) intensive Labor (and cost) intensive Consideration of goods movement Consideration of goods movement Need to build new expanded relationships with resource agencies, other planning agencies, and the public Need to build new expanded relationships with resource agencies, other planning agencies, and the public Traditional role of the MPO Traditional role of the MPO

18 Initial Results Clearer articulation of long term visions Clearer articulation of long term visions Earlier consideration of alternatives for major projects Earlier consideration of alternatives for major projects Possible method to address cumulative impacts Possible method to address cumulative impacts Greater opportunity to protect sensitive habitat and resources Greater opportunity to protect sensitive habitat and resources Earlier and more inclusive public involvement and buy-in Earlier and more inclusive public involvement and buy-in Forum for sustained decision-making Forum for sustained decision-making Helps satisfy new federal planning requirements Helps satisfy new federal planning requirements

19 Regional Blueprint Planning Grants Voluntary, discretionary, competitive Voluntary, discretionary, competitive FY 2005/06: $5 million awarded to 14 MPOs FY 2005/06: $5 million awarded to 14 MPOs FY 2006/07: $5 million in budget for up to 18 MPOs FY 2006/07: $5 million in budget for up to 18 MPOs Rural “Blueprint” pilot project funded separately: $280,000 (SP&R funds) Rural “Blueprint” pilot project funded separately: $280,000 (SP&R funds)

20 FY : Seven grants awarded (14 MPOs) BCAG$185,000SLOCOG$226,800 SANDAG$409,750 SACOG$420,000 MTC/ABAG$500,000 SCAG$1,258,450 SJV: 8 MPOs $2,000,000 $5 million:

21 FY : Seven continuing grantees (14 MPOs) eligible Approx. $4 million: BCAG BCAG SLOCOG SLOCOG SANDAG SANDAG SACOG SACOG MTC/ABAG MTC/ABAG SCAG SCAG SJV: 8 MPOs SJV: 8 MPOs

22 FY : Four New Grantees (4 MPOs) Eligible Approx. $1 million: SCRTPA SCRTPA TMPO TMPO AMBAG AMBAG SBCAG SBCAG

23 …all 18 MPOs in the State may be Grantees $5 million $5 million “Seed” money “Seed” money MPO-driven MPO-driven

24 Tri-County Partnership Three rural counties in “blueprint” pilot ($280,000, SP&R funds): Three rural counties in “blueprint” pilot ($280,000, SP&R funds): Amador Amador Calaveras Calaveras Alpine Alpine

25 First-Time Grantees: Next Steps Application due by Application due by Technical assistance from Caltrans and HCD Technical assistance from Caltrans and HCD Application to include: Application to include: Discussion of preparation for blueprint planning (e.g., participation in networking meetings) Discussion of preparation for blueprint planning (e.g., participation in networking meetings) Discussion of anticipated challenges and potential strategies to overcome them Discussion of anticipated challenges and potential strategies to overcome them FY proposed work plan, budget and timetable FY proposed work plan, budget and timetable Draft OWP Work Element Draft OWP Work Element Awards announced by Awards announced by

26 Continuing Grantees: Next Steps Application due by Application due by Application to include: Application to include: Accomplishments to date (based on quarterly reports, work plan accomplishments, expenditures) Accomplishments to date (based on quarterly reports, work plan accomplishments, expenditures) Discussion of challenges and strategies to overcome obstacles Discussion of challenges and strategies to overcome obstacles FY proposed work plan, budget and timetable FY proposed work plan, budget and timetable Draft OWP Work Element Draft OWP Work Element Awards announced by Awards announced by

27 Networking and Peer Exchange Opportunities Blueprint Learning Network (BLN) workshops Blueprint Learning Network (BLN) workshops FHWA’s peer exchange Scenario Planning Workshops FHWA’s peer exchange Scenario Planning Workshops

28 Blueprint Learning Network Networking, mentoring Networking, mentoring Series of three workshops Series of three workshops May 12, Sacramento May 12, Sacramento Land use, housing, forecasting Sept 13-14, Oakland Sept 13-14, Oakland Transportation planning, modeling, forecasting Nov 29-30, Anaheim Nov 29-30, Anaheim Environmental data, green infrastructure

29 Scenario Planning Workshops FHWA-sponsored peer exchange FHWA-sponsored peer exchange Four held nationwide Four held nationwide California held two in 2006: California held two in 2006: 6/2/06 - Monterey 8/16/06 - Chico

30 Consultant-led Blueprint Support

31 Some Other State Efforts to Assist Regions: California Transportation Plan California Transportation Plan Regional Growth Dialogues Regional Growth Dialogues Regional Blueprint Progress Indicators Regional Blueprint Progress Indicators SPR Part I, Special Studies SPR Part I, Special Studies

32 California Transportation Plan Approved for Distribution Approved for Distribution Vision for Sustainability – 3E’s Vision for Sustainability – 3E’s Reflects State and Regional Priorities Reflects State and Regional Priorities Framework for Future RTP’s Framework for Future RTP’s

33 Regional Growth Dialogues Forum for Discussion of Issues Forum for Discussion of Issues Education on Bond Initiatives Education on Bond Initiatives Cover State Programs & Tools Available to Regions Cover State Programs & Tools Available to Regions

34 Regional Blueprint Progress Indicators Monitor Effectiveness of Blueprint Grants Monitor Effectiveness of Blueprint Grants Can be Utilized for Other Programs Can be Utilized for Other Programs Include Transportation, Education, Housing, Health Measures Include Transportation, Education, Housing, Health Measures

35 SPR, Part I, Special Studies Application Program - CT Staff Only Application Program - CT Staff Only Regional Collaboration and Partnership Regional Collaboration and Partnership

36 SPR, Part I, Special Studies Examples: Examples: Richardson Grove Good Movement Study, Humboldt County Richardson Grove Good Movement Study, Humboldt County I-5 Developer Fee Study, Shasta & Tehama Counties I-5 Developer Fee Study, Shasta & Tehama Counties I-8 Transportation, Housing, Jobs, Corridor Study, San Diego and Imperial Counties I-8 Transportation, Housing, Jobs, Corridor Study, San Diego and Imperial Counties

37 Regional Forecasts and Projections Planning Requires Forecasting the Future Planning Requires Forecasting the Future  How much growth & where?  Need a growth-forecasting model (to link jobs/housing/markets/travel)

38 Regional Forecasts and Projections Improving Regional Projections Improving Regional Projections  Methodology  Assumptions  Data Sources  State Technical Advisory Committee (STAC)

39 Regional Forecasts …. Caltrans’ County Forecast Project Caltrans’ County Forecast Project County Economic Models: Link demographics, economic activity (transactions, jobs) & housing. County Economic Models: Link demographics, economic activity (transactions, jobs) & housing. Models/forecasts are annually updated & refined. Models/forecasts are annually updated & refined. County forecasts are posted on our web site. County forecasts are posted on our web site.

40 Contact Information For further information - Visit our program website at: Visit our program website at: Contact our Regional Blueprint project manager: Contact our Regional Blueprint project manager: Marilee Mortenson Marilee Mortenson (916)

41 In summary, what is Regional Blueprint?

42 Questions