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For Immediate Release

Bay Region a Finalist for Funds to Promote "Smart Growth"

Regional Agencies Submit Joint Proposal

CONTACT:

Steve Heminger, MTC
510.817.5810

Gary Binger, ABAG
510.464.7902

Teresa Lee, BAAQMD
415.749.4905


OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 20, 1999. . . The San Francisco Bay Area is a finalist for federal funding under an innovative program to better link transportation and land-use decisions. A joint proposal for the funds was submitted last November by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The proposal is supported by a broad range of business, environmental and community—based agencies in the Bay Area. U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater announced the finalists on Jan. 13, 1999.

The $1 million federal grant would fund the Bay Area's Partnership for Smart Growth – a program designed to implement specific transportation and land—use strategies that further the commitment to sustaining the urban core of the region. The program will consist of three phases:

  • (1) a "best practices" inventory of innovative local land—use strategies in the Bay Area and elsewhere, such as urban growth boundaries or increased density zones near transit centers;
  • (2) an investigation with local elected officials and other interested groups of the barriers and opportunities to expanding the use of these strategies; and
  • (3) development of financial incentives and other tools to implement "smart growth" practices throughout the Bay Area.

"This program will be locally driven because our experience has made it clear that land—use strategies to improve community livability must be developed and accepted locally," said MTC Executive Director Lawrence D. Dahms.

"This study will help further efforts to partner with local government to promote environmentally sustainable development. This is an important initiative for the 21st century," said Ellen Garvey, executive officer of the Air District.

ABAG Executive Director Eugene Leong stated, "ABAG is very excited by the opportunity to work with local governments to find out what ‘Smart Growth' means in each Bay Area community. The real challenge will be to figure out ways that we, as a region, can help each community develop intelligently."

More than 500 proposals were received nationwide for the Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program, established under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21). The Bay Area is one of 49 finalists which will now prepare full grant proposals for further consideration. The Federal Highway Administration expects to award 20 or 25 grants by spring 1999.

MTC is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. ABAG is the regional planning and services agency for the cities and counties of the Bay Area. The BAAQMD is the regional agency that regulates industrial sources of air pollution in the Bay Area.

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