This process can provide that vision, and if Smart Growth ideas are developed with local support and tied to the RTP, action steps for implementation will be built into the process. There have been extremely positive responses to this proposal from some of our Congressional representatives, local elected officials and agency staff. Local governments would be asked to develop strategies that would work best in their communities. Each city and county would be asked to submit their own smart growth alternative. Although MTC can not dictate local land use decisions, they do have the responsibility to ensure that public money is invested where and how it will do the most good.
Encouraging land uses that reduce demand on the transportation infrastructure is a good investment.
Also, the boards of MTC and ABAG, the regional agencies leading up this project, are comprised primarily of local elected officials who understand that without better coordination of transportation and land use planning, all of the worst predictions for the Bay Area will come true. Poll after poll show that people support alternative transportation as a way to combat congestion. With proper leadership, this project will also convince the public that land use changes must be made to decrease congestion and ensure the success of alternatives. Second, success stories are popping up around the Bay, whether it is San Jose growing housing along light rail, Fruitvale BART area creating a transit-oriented community in place of a planned parking garage, or the initiation of rail service between Stockton and Silicon Valley at relatively low cost. Third, this process is ambitious but unlike some previous efforts no new layers of government will be created.