It’s the one year anniversary of Southern California’s groundbreaking SCS/RTP, so I made the pilgrimage to Palm Desert for SCAG’s annual gathering to see how the Sustainable Communities Strategy is playing out in California’s largest and most diverse region.

As regions throughout the state have been developing their first round of Sustainable Communities Strategies, one question that has consistently been asked is: “How do we fund all of these great projects?” And now, with the release of the California Air Resources Board’s Draft Investment Plan for the cap-and-trade program, we are hopeful that regional and local governments may soon have another revenue option.

The saga of the Cordova Hills mega development project in the Sacramento region continues. In February, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved an 8,000 unit subdivision in Cordova Hills, a sprawling development that, if built, will threaten Sacramento’s economic and environmental future. Last week, a group of commercial developers called Region Builders recommended that the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) silence its staff from offering opinions on development projects. Executive Director of SACOG Mike McKeever offered critical testimony of Cordova Hills at a supervisors hearing in January, and after that, the Region Builders sent a letter to SACOG expressing concern about SACOG’s opposition to projects. Now, they are recommending that SACOG staff only provide technical data to local governments on projects, not opinions.

As planning for the first leg of high speed rail in the Valley continues amidst its share of controversy, another exciting development in the Valley’s passenger rail  system is moving forward with broad support.

The draft of the Bay Area’s first Sustainable Communities Strategy, Plan Bay Area, was released two weeks ago and regional advocates are already weighing in.  Plan Bay Area, scheduled for adoption this summer, will guide development decisions and transportation investments in the 9-county Bay Area region until 2040.