Climate Change
California's public transit systems must play a more meaningful role in the State's plans for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that cause climate change. The California Transit Association is therefore working with state leaders to define and support transit's many contributions to reducing GHG emissions, including through funding and encouragement of new transit services to attract motorists, planning for transit-supportive land use decisions, use of clean air technology, and other emissions reductions strategies to combat climate change and global warming.
The California Transit Association Executive Committee adopted five Overarching Policy Goals on Climate Change to guide the Association's work with the State as it develops and implements laws such as AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, and SB 375 [Steinberg, Chapter 728, Statutes of 2008]. The policy goals will also guide staff regarding Federal climate change efforts.
Overarching Policy Goals on Climate Change
As California and the United States move toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, the California Transit Association believes that public transportation is part of the solution. In addition to providing efficient mobility and reduced congestion, transit provides improved air quality, energy efficiency, and reduced household expenditure on transportation. Transit also creates healthier communities through increased social inclusion and physical activity, as well as more walking and biking opportunities, leading toward an overall improvement in our quality of life. In State and Federal development and implementation of climate change laws, the California Transit Association maintains the following principles:
1. Transit must be at the table as these new laws are developed and implemented.
2. In pursuing its goals for clean air, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and a stronger connection between transportation & land-use planning, we acknowledge the State will pursue many strategies with regard to the Transportation Sector, such as cleaning the vehicle fleet and lowering the carbon content of fuel; these strategies must also include enactment of laws and regulations acknowledging the vital role enhanced public transportation service can and should play in meeting these goals, including through mode shifting from auto trips and reduction of vehicle miles traveled. Transit will, to the best of our ability, partner with the State in pursuing these strategies.
3. The ARB should advocate for a strong State role in funding the transit levels needed to meet State environmental objectives. Its objectives should include the stabilization and protection of current transit funding sources. Any new laws or regulations implementing the State’s goals in these policy areas calling for enhanced public transportation service must include appropriate stable and long-term State funding sources adequate to support the required transit service, and include protections from future diversion.
4. We oppose imposition of unfunded mandates on transit, and we support the dedication of revenues from any new greenhouse gas emission reduction measures (i.e. cap-and-trade, fees or other market-based programs) to expand funding for transit in the State. We urge the ARB to dedicate an appropriate level of revenue from such programs to strategies that enhance public transit.
5. We support a Federal program which will provide funds to transit systems to recognize them for their efforts to reduce greenhouse gases either on their own initiative or in response to state and/or federal requirements.
The California Transit Association continues to monitor and participate in new developments in State and Federal climate change efforts and to encourage transit-supportive policy enactments. Our Association's Climate Change Task Force makes ongoing policy recommendations to our Association's leadership as issues continue to evolve.
Questions regarding our Climate Change program should be directed to Legislative and Regulatory Advocate Sabrina Means at sabrina@caltransit.org.
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Related Reports
Transportation Research Board – Adapting Transportation to the Impacts of Climate Change (Full Report (PDF, 4 MB))
Urban Land Institute – SB 375 Impact Analysis (Summary and Key Findings (PDF, 22 KB)) (Full Report (PDF, 4 MB))
Vision California – Charting Our Future (Summary and Key Findings (PDF, 129 KB)) (Full Report (PDF, 540 KB))
Moving Cooler: An Analysis of Transportation Strategies for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Overview) (Key Findings)
TransForm – Windfall for All (Executive Summary (PDF, 4.6 MB) (Full Report (PDF, 13 MB))
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment (Full Report (PDF, 551 KB))
