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17 BACK GROUNDstyle='font-size:7.5pt'> style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>18 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> I. The m munity and Environmental Se tting.
19 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 28. the re gion is exp a ct over 9 million residents by 2040.
style='font-size:14.0pt'> ved by various forms of public tra nsportatio n, including: rail style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 p roperties B style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay Area Rapid Tr (― BART and CalTr bus prop such as the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 Al a Costa Transit ct ―AC Tr ansi t‖), SamTr a M UNI, and various fe rry style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 lin es. Still, residents r emain heavi style='letter-spacing:.3pt'>ly reliant on ca rs and li cks for transport ation to work. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 30. This reli ance on cars and tru mode of d ly ansp ortation has signifi cant style='font-size:9.5pt'> 6 environme imp on the r egion. style='letter-spacing:2.25pt'> Ordin ary combustion en ―greenhou se gas es‖ such style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 arbon dioxide, which contribute global wa rming, and air pollutants su ch as nitro gen oxides style='font-size:9.5pt'> 8 and volatile or ganic compound s, all of which ha ve b een shown to contribute to serious health eff ec ts style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 such espi rato style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>ry ailments and cardiova scular dis ease. Cars and light trucks r emain the single style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 largest source of g reenh ouse gas emissions in the St C rnia, and in the Bay A re a, these style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 sources are r esponsible for near style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>ly 40% of gr eenhouse gas emissions in the re gion. style='font-size:9.5pt'> style='color:red'>12 31. Over the p ye ars, th h as been an incre ase in the number of veh icle miles style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 13 trav elled ( ―VMTs‖), associated g reenhouse gas emissions. The Plan es to alter th at style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 14 traje r y, and continues to incr ease the amount of VMTs. The a ge ncies‘ failure to shift style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 transport ation pat terns in the Plan is a continu ation of their long-standi ng patt and practi ce— style='font-size:9.5pt'> 16 public tr ansportation ridership has r emained relat ive ly fl the past 20 y ears, despite re gional style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 population incr eas es. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 32. The B style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay A rea region houses a number of key an sportation hubs, through whi ch style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 large volumes of p eople and consumer goods tr ansit on a daily basis. It has three major airpo – style='font-size:9.5pt'> 20 San Fra ncisco Int ernati onal Airport, San Jose Intern ational Airport, and Oakland Int ation al style='font-size:9.5pt'> 21 Airport. It has sever m ajor ports, including the Port of Oakland, the h g est port in the United style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 States. The gh wa ys that serve the area h ave high volumes of truck tr affic carr ying consumer style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 goods – I -880/80 ca rries the high est volume of tru af fic in the region, and I -580 has the second style='font-size:9.5pt'> 24 highest volume of tr uck trfic in the entire n A number of fr ei ai style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>lway lines also transit style='font-size:9.5pt'> 25 through the region. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 33. The movem cons umer goods thro ugh the region r epr esents a subst anti al style='font-size:9.5pt'> 27 component of the local e conom y, and is e xpec ted to grow si gnific ly the near future. style='letter-spacing:3.0pt'> A ccording style='font-size:9.5pt'> 28
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style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 businesses sp end over $6.6 billion on tr ansportation services, a nd goods movement businesses cr eate style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 over 10 per cent of regional empl oyment. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 34. The ov er all movement of goods nationwide and in the re gion is exp ected to increas e. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 The 2009 MTC stu dy fo recast an increase in style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> goo ds movement through air ports, seaports and style='font-size:9.5pt'> 6 railways of 109% b etween 2006 and 2009. The Fed al High way Administration proje cts a style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 n ationwide increase of 80% in freight tonn age h auled by tru cks and a 73% incr ease ail tonnage; style='font-size:9.5pt'> 8 air car go tonna ge is expe cted to quadruple. style='color:red;letter-spacing:.05pt'>Activi style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ty in California ports is exp ected to increase by style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 9 250% b etwe en the pr es ent and 2020. Due to shifting patterns, t ru ansiting throu gh the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 Bay Area are exp ected to increase the distan ces tr avell ed to deliver their ca rgo T he n eed for style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 industrial lands is also exp ected to increase, as more manufacturing and warehouse spa ce will be style='font-size:9.5pt'> 12 needed, to a ccommodate e xpected increases in g oods movement through airpo hi ghw style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ays, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 13 seaports and r ail. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 14 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 35. The movem ent of fr ei ght h as serious environment al and public health impli cations. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 A signifi cant portion of the g reenhou se gas emissions from transportation is due to the movement of style='font-size:9.5pt'> 16 frei ght and goods thro ugh California. style='letter-spacing:3.0pt'> One quarter of the Bay Ar ea‘s p articulate (PM) 2.5 style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 emissions g ener ated in Alameda Count y, whi ch hosts rs tate 880 and 80, routes h eavi style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>ly style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 traffick by the tru cks tr ansporting goods from the Port of Oakland. The emissions from freight style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 vehicles like tru cks and ships cause a numb er of adverse he alth eff ects, from incre ased respir ato style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ry style='font-size:9.5pt'> 20 and cardiov ascular ailments, to prematu re d eat h. Th will be a corresponding increase in the se style='font-size:9.5pt'> 21 emissions lo ads, as the volume of goods move ment increas es throu gh the r gion. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 36. Goods movement also h eavi style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly imp acts low -in come and minority communities. The style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 infrastru cture that f acilit ates the movement of go ods – the airports and se apo rts, and the hig hwa ys style='font-size:9.5pt'> 24 and railwa ys that connect those facilities to other parts of the state – is by a nd large situated in low- style='font-size:9.5pt'> 25 income and minori ty communities. These communities are burde ned by adverse h ealth effects from style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 these tr ansportation hubs. The proje ct ed health outcomes for residents of nei ghborhoods like West style='font-size:9.5pt'> 27 and East Oakland are drasti ly diff ent from the outcomes for r esidents of we hillside style='font-size:9.5pt'> 28 neighborhoods lo f urther from transport ation inf rastru ctur For ex ample, an Afri can Ameri can
style='font-size:14.0pt'> Veri Petition for Writ of Ma ndate style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 9 1 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 Hills, and is five tim es more likely to be hospitaliz dia betes, twice as likely to be affected by style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 heart dise as e, and twice as lik ely to die of cancer. style='font-size:8.0pt'> 4 II. Statuto ry Fr ame work Underly style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ing Regio nal Transpo tion Plan
5 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 37. Pursuant to 23 U.S.C. §§ 134, et seq., metropolitan planning org aniz ations must style='font-size:9.0pt'> 6 develop a lon g-t erm re gion tr ansportation ( ―RTP‖) ev ery four y ears. style='letter-spacing:2.4pt'> MTC is g en style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>cy style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 responsible for p rep aring the RTP for the San Fran ay Area re The last RTP for the Bay style='font-size:9.0pt'> 8 Area w as adopted in 2009. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 38. The policy style='letter-spacing:.65pt'> und l ying style='letter-spacing:.8pt'> the style='letter-spacing:.95pt'> RTP is style='letter-spacing:1.15pt'> ―to style='letter-spacing:.95pt'> encourage style='letter-spacing:.95pt'> and p the style='letter-spacing:1.0pt'> safe style='letter-spacing:1.0pt'> and ef ficient style='font-size:9.0pt'> 10 management, oper ation, and dev elopment of surface tr ansport ation s ystems that will serve the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 mobility ne eop le r ei ght and foster e conomic gr owth and devel opment of surface style='font-size:9.0pt'> 12 transport ation s ystems th at will serve the mobili style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ty n eop le and fre ight and foster economic style='font-size:9.5pt'> 13 growth and d ev elopment within and betw een States and urbaniz ed a reas, while minimi zing style='font-size:9.0pt'> 14 transport ation-r el f uel consumption and air pollution throu gh metropolitan and statewide style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 transport planning style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> pro cesses .‖ 23 style='letter-spacing:.25pt'> U.S.C. § style='letter-spacing:.3pt'> 134(a) (1). style='font-size:9.0pt'> 16 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 39. The planning proc ess shall include consid ation of proje cts and str ate gies th at will style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 ―inc re the ac cessibili mobili ty of p f fr ei ght,‖ and ― enh ance int egration and style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> connectivi style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ty of the transportation style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> s across style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> and b etween style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> modes, for people style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> and style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> fr ei ght.‖ 23 19 U.S.C. § 134(h )(D), (F). 20 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 40. F eder al re gulations require an inte gr ated plan which ac counts for the tr ansportation of style='font-size:9.5pt'> 21 people and goods. style='letter-spacing:1.85pt'> They equire to ―include lon g- ra nge and sho rt-r an ge st rat egies/ actions style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 that lead to the dev m an integ rated multimodal transportation sys tem to facilitate the safe style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> and eff icient movement of p and goods in addressing cu rr fu ture anspor tation 24 demand.‖ style='letter-spacing:.55pt'> 23 C. § style='letter-spacing:.35pt'> 450.322 (b). 25 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 41. The planning proc sh all further projects str ate th ― protect and style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 enhance environme nt, promote ener gy r vation, improve the quality of li fe, and promote style='font-size:9.5pt'> 27 consisten style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>cy b etwe a nsportation improvements and State al planned gr owth and economic style='font-size:9.5pt'> 28 development style='letter-spacing:.3pt'> patterns .‖ 23 style='letter-spacing:.35pt'> U.S.C. § style='letter-spacing:.35pt'> 134(h )( E).
style='font-size:14.0pt'> Veri Petition for Writ of Ma ndate style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 10 1
style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 und er Califo rnia law for regional tr ansport ation plans. The statute dire a style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>nsportation planning style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 agen to pr epa re adopt a plan ―dire achieving coordin and balan ced gional style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 transport ation s ystem, in g, but not limited to mass transport gh wa y, railr oad, maritime, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> bicyc le, style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> pe destrian, style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> goo ds mov aviation style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> fa and serv ices.‖ California Govern ment 6 Code § 65080 (a). 7 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 43. The C rnia Sustainable Communities and imate e ct of 2008, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 8 C rnia ate Bill (―SB 375‖), ad ded langu to statut whi r ed RTPs to style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 contain ―sustainable c ommunities strategy.‖ style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> A ―sustainable communities strate gy‖ ( ―SCS‖) style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 consists of an integ rated l and use and transportati on plan, which among oth gs, must enable the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 region to me et the gr eenhouse gas emissions redu ction tar gets style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> set by the ARB. Califo rnia style='font-size:9.5pt'> 12 Government Code § 65 080(b)(2)(B). style='font-size:9.5pt'> 13 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 44. SB 375 is d g ned to reduce GHG emissions from cars and li ck style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>s. The style='font-size:9.5pt'> 14 legislative histo style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ry of the statute emphasi zes that reductions should be ach iev ed throu gh r educi ng style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 reliance on automobiles and trucks, and not th rou gh consi der ation of other GHG red uction style='font-size:9.5pt'> 16 programs: ―[T ]his bill rovides me chanism f or r educi ng greenhouse g as es f the gle la rg est style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 sector of emissions, cars and light trucks…[ a]lthou gh gr eenhouse gas emi ssions can be r educed by style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 producing fu ff icient cars and using low carbon fuel, red uctions in vehicles miles trav style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>elled style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 will also be style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> ne cessa style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ry.‖ Sen Rul Committe e, An al SB 375 (August style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> 30, 2008). style='font-size:8.0pt'> 20 III. K ey F eatu Plan Bay Area
21 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 45. MTC and A BAG joint style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>ly led the developm ent of Plan ay r ea, in collaboration with style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 two other r egional a gen ci the ay Area Qu ality M ana ge ment District ( ―BAAQM D‖) and the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 B style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay Conservation and D evelopm Commission ― BCDC‖). style='font-size:9.5pt'> 24 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 46. The Plan is describ ed as follows in the accompa ny ing environm ent ct report, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 25 ― [t]he proposed ay r serv the R gional Tr ansportation the San style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Fran cisco ay Area reg ion as well as the re gion‘s Sustain able Communities Strate gy (SCS) as 27 28
style='font-size:14.0pt'> Veri Petition for Writ of Ma ndate style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 11 1 style='position:relative;z-index:-89'>
style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 Plan ―rep res a ans portation l use blu eprint h the B style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay Area add resses its style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 tr ansportation mobility and acc ty n eeds, land developm ent, and greenhouse g as emissions style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 r eduction requi rements throu gh t he ye ar 20 40.‖ Id. style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> It is the style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> first style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> B style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay Area style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> RTP to incorpor an style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 SCS. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 6 47. As stat in EIR, ― [t]he Plan aims a focused gro style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>by building off of style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 loc l y-i dentifi ed Priori style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ty D evelopm ent Ar eas and by emp hasi zing st style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>rat egic investments in the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 8 re anspor tation network (including a stro ng emph asis on operati ng and maintaining the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 existing system).‖ DE 1. 2-20. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 48. The Plan e to con ce ntrate and job growth a reas ― style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>Priori style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ty style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 Development style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> Ar eas,‖ which style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> are style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> e xisting n ghbo rhoods, nominat by lo cal style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> jurisdi with style='font-size:9.5pt'> 12 access tr a ped estri an-f ri endly enviro nment. This ate gy is int ended ― enh anc ] style='font-size:9.5pt'> 13 mobility and economic growth by linking housing and jobs with transit to c reate a style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>more ef ficient style='font-size:9.5pt'> 14 land use p attern around tr ansit and help achieve a gr eater return on e xisting n ansit style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 investments.‖ style='letter-spacing:.9pt'> D EIR style='letter-spacing:.55pt'> at style='letter-spacing:.45pt'> 1.2 -24-25. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 16 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 49. The tr ansportation investment at egy the is ed ―suppo the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 proposed Plan‘s go by redu ci ng automobile de pend cy and promoting h communities style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 through r educ pollution and a ner a ir.‖ D style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>EIR style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> at style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> 1.2-37. Among inv estments proposed style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> by style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 the Plan regional transit sys tem improvements (in cluding BART and Caltr ain extensions), local style='font-size:9.5pt'> 20 transit imp rovements, road pricing improv ements, highway style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>system improvements (including the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 21 widening of particular highw style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ays, and the cre ation of new interch an ge s). style='font-size:9.5pt'> style='color:red'>22 50. Only a sm all perc enta ge of fundi ng of the Plan is dire cted to innovations in the style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 23 transpo rtation infrastr uctur e. MTC estimat es that approxim ately $292 billion in revenue will be style='font-size:7.5pt'> 24 available th rou year 2040 style='font-size:8.0pt;position:relative;top:-5.5pt'>. The majori style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ty of these funds are al rea style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>dy dedic ated to particular uses, 25 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 1 The r aft Environment al Impa ct Report was rel eas public comm ent on April 2, 2013, and contains the proj ect des cription and overview of P lan ay r ea, as w ell as the substantive ana style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>lysis 26 of the environme im pacts the Plan. style='letter-spacing:2.3pt'> The Fin Environm ental Impa R (― FE IR‖) as rele as ed in Ju ly 2013 and contains r evisions to the DE IR, ell as the public comm ents and 27 responses to public comments. Since the bulk of an l environ mental impacts is contained in the DEIR, this P etition will ref er to the DEIR, unless othe rwise noted. 28 style='font-size:5.0pt'>
Veri Petition for Writ of Ma ndate style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 12 1
style='left:0px;position:absolute;left:85px;top:-1px;width:7px;height:1058px'>
style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 2 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> be used for t ransport ation exp ansion. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 51. The Plan continues to expand high wa ys, and age ncy proj ections show that daily style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 v ehicle trips and miles t rav elled will increase und Pla n. The Plan includes some 194 projects style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 that incr ease fr eew style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay la ne-miles, at a cost of appro ximate ly $5.4 billion. Among the r oadw style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay style='font-size:9.5pt'> 6 capaci style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ty in cre as propo sed under Plan the ―R gional Exp La nes etwor k,‖ which ―builds style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 n g h-o ccup c y/toll (H OT) la nes on many of the r egion‘s most cong ested freew style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay corrido rs.‖ style='font-size:9.5pt'> 8 DEIR at 2.1-25. Highway wideni ng proje cts are r esponsible for the r emaind the freeway style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 cap aci style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ty in cre as es. Under the Plan, dai style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly vehicle trips are expe cted to increase by 22%. Dai style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 vehicle av elled a re e xpected to increase by 20%. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 52. The EIR shows that under the Plan, throu gh 2040, there will be an in cre ase in style='font-size:9.5pt'> 12 5,571,000 metric tons of gr eenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. This repres ents a style='font-size:9.5pt'> 13 21% inc re ase from present conditions. Yet the EIR improp erly as serts that there will be a dec rease style='font-size:9.5pt'> 14 in emissions from p g er vehicl es ov er time style='color:red'>. It do es so by cr editing em style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>issions redu ctions f rom style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 15 sep a te state emissions redu ction pr ogr ams. The EIR factors in emissions reductions from style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 16 Assemb style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly 1 493 ―P avle clean c st andar ds, which et pro essive g reenhouse gas emissions style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 17 ca style='color:red'>ps for passe ng er vehic les and light tru The EIR also fa ctors in emissions from E xecutive style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 18 Ord S -01-07, which es tablished lo w- style='color:red;letter-spacing:.05pt'>carbon fu st andard (― LC FS‖) which et go style='color:red;letter-spacing:-.05pt'>als edu ce the style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 19 ca style='color:red'>rbon int ty of trans portation fuels. style='font-size:9.5pt'> style='color:red'>20 53. The EIR also shows that style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> under the Plan, throu gh 2040, there will be an style='color:red'>incr ease in style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 21 6,769,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from va rious l and uses (i.e., residential use, and style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 commercial, o ffice and industrial use s). style='letter-spacing:3.0pt'> This rep res ents a 28% incr ea se from present conditions. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 Only by app style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>lyi ng ions edu f the R c Board ( ―AR B‖) Climate Cha nge style='font-size:9.5pt'> 24 Scoping ―S coping ‖) implementing C rnia Global W style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>Solutions Act ( ―AB style='font-size:9.5pt'> 25 32‖), a re the agen able to style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> account for red uctions as claimed in the E The ARB Scoping Plan style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 measures included in the DE IR‘s calcu lations are: en er gy effici en style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>cy pr og rams (utility en er gy style='font-size:9.5pt'> 27 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> efficie ncy pro gr ams, building and appli ance stand e fficien style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>cy and con serv ation pr og rams), heat 28 style='font-size:5.0pt'>
Veri Petition for Writ of Ma ndate style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 13 1 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 heating fill meth ane control. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 54. The same pr ograms (Pavle y, LC FS, and AB 32 Scoping Me es) are t aken into style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 consider en an l yzing ether the Plan meets the go of Ex ecutive Order S-3 -05 (June 1, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 2005) and Ex ecutive Order B-16 -2012 (M ch 23, 2012). E xecutive rd er S-3 e co gniz ed the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 6 need to r edu ce gr eenhouse gas emissions to comb at the effects of climate change, and set the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 following targets issions ed uctions: ― by 2 010, r educe GHG emissions 2000 els; by style='font-size:9.5pt'> 8 2020, redu G to 1990 lev els; by 2050 to 80 per below style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> 1990 lev els.‖ Ex ecutive style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 O rder B -16 -2012 r ec ogni zed the importance of e ncoura ging e velopm ent and adoption of z ero style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 emissions vehicl and a ―C rnia t ar get for 2050 redu of gre gas emissions style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 from the tr ansportation sector style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> eq ualing 80 perc less style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> than 1990 style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> lev els.‖ Without redu f rom style='font-size:9.5pt'> 12 Pavley, L CFS and AB 3 2, land use and transport ation emissions in the re gion are expected to style='font-size:9.5pt'> 13 increas e, and the Plan does not me et the targ ets set forth in these e xecutive ord Furthe rmor e, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 14 even with these r educti ons being tak en into acco unt, the Plan will f adequ ly contribute to style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 meeting the ex ecutive order t arg ets. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 16 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 55. The Plan situ ey de velopm ents in ar eas that a re subj ect to sea lev el rise. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 Accordi ng to the EIR, t ransportation investments, l and use developments and residenti al areas will style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 be subj ect to sea lev el ris Plan propos es some mitigation measures to addr ess sea el rise, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 but states th at ultimate responsibility for implementing mitig ations rests upon other loc al style='font-size:9.5pt'> 20 agencies. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 21 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 56. Signifi cant con cerns r em ain about the viability of the PDAs proposed by the Plan. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 The Plan do es little to gu ant style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ee that transportation se es and improve ments to serve the PDAs style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 will be adopte will be able to continue w here they curr ly e xist. For example, some e as style='font-size:9.5pt'> 24 designa ted as PDAs, such as Tr eas ure Isl and, the Alameda N aval/Air Station, Vall ejo and Ben ici a, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 25 do not curr ly ha ve a ccess to varied and robust fo rms of public transit, and transit capa ty will style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 need to be in cr eas er to serve these area s. S ever al PD As are loc ated in coast-adj acent areas style='font-size:9.5pt'> 27 that are vulner able to sea el rise, as well as f rom earthquake ha zards. style='letter-spacing:3.0pt'> Additional ly, sev er al PD As style='font-size:9.5pt'> 28 are loc adj acent to important natural r esourc es, and raise conc erns that they will affe ct the health
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style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 ea for the Don Edwards N ational Wildlife Refu ge. Still other PDAs r aise conc about the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 f easibili ty of implementing the housi ng str ate gy proposed by the Plan style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> – for e xampl e, the PDA in style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 Brisbane is cur rent style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly on ly zon new industrial developm ent, and the addition of new housing style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 will require a popul ar vote, raising si gnifi cant con about the implementation of the PD A. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 6 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 57. The Plan also cr eates the risk of displacement of lo w-in communities. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 Ac cordi ng to the Equity An al ysis cond ucted by MTC and style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> ABA G, the Plan would incr ea se the risk style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 8 style='color:red'>of displ acement to overbu rden ed r rs by 36%. A of the are as identified for d ev elopment style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> as PDAs – such as Chin atown, B style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ayvi ew/Hunters Point, the Mission Di strict, and ar eas identified f or style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 development in Ri chmond and along major corrido rs in East Oakland – h ave histo al style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly hou sed style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 rente rs, and have been home to long-standin g, low -income communities of color. The es not style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 12 e style='color:red'>nsure that affo rd able housing will remain ac cessible to these communities, the re style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>by cre ating risk style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 13 that members of these communities will be displaced to subur ban areas which are further f rom style='font-size:9.5pt'> 14 robust public tr ansportation systems. When they do not have re dy a ccess to transit, the low-income style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 members of these communities tend to depend on older vehicl es, with gre ater lev els of emissions, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 16 for their dai style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>ly tr ansport ation needs. This movem ent will necessa ly have environmental impacts. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 58. There is ve style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ry little consideration of goods movement in the Plan or EI style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>R, de spite style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 MTC‘s 2004 and 2009 studies p extensive info rmation about projected incre ases in goods style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 movement th gh the region, the n egative he alth ef fe cts of goods movem ent, and the need f or style='font-size:9.5pt'> 20 mitigations for the ef fe goods movement. This is in style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> mark ed contr to the regional plan style='font-size:9.5pt'> 21 crea ted by the Southern Califo rnia Associ ation of Governments, which in cludes a detailed style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 description of goods movement in the project de scription, a detailed an l ysis of goods movem ent style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 through the region, and proposes a vari ty of mitigation measures to ad dre ss the environmental and style='font-size:9.5pt'> 24 health effects of goods movement. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 25 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 59. The alter native proposals consid ed by the age ncies pf orm bett an the Plan in a style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 variety w style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ays. style='letter-spacing:2.3pt'> For e xampl the E identifi style='color:red'>Altern 5, the ―Environment, Equi ty Jobs‖ style='font-size:9.5pt'> 27 alternative as environment ly superior alt ernative in la rge part its er G HG style='font-size:9.5pt'> 28 emissions r eductions and estimated r eduction in criteria and T AC [to xic air contaminants] emissions.
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style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 Alternative 5, both have low ev els of v ehicle miles tr avell ed than the Pr oposed Plan. Alternative style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 5 has the low est amount of v ehicle miles tra vell ed, at 2 perc er than the pro posed P style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>lan. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 Alternative 5 also has the g reatest transportation r idership than any other pl an, 6 perc ent more than style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 the propos ed Plan. Altern ative 5 is also expected to r educe more anspor tation and land use style='font-size:9.5pt'> 6 greenhouse gas es than the proposed Plan – under Altern ative 5, GHG emissions are expected to style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 decline by 14 pe rcent betwe en 2010 and 2040, which is a two p ercent gre decline th he style='font-size:9.5pt'> 8 proposed Plan. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 60. Adopting the ―Env ironment, Equity and Jobs‖ alt ative d ramatical style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly inc re ase style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 transit se le vel s, and will result in a number of gible b enefits, including: 83,500 fewer cars style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 on the ro ad; 3.5 million fewer miles of auto travel per day; 165,000 more p riding public transit style='font-size:9.5pt'> 12 per d ay; and 1,900 few er tons of carbon dioxide emissions per day 6 8,000 fewer tons of style='font-size:7.5pt'> 13 g reenhouse gas emissions per y ear style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>.2 style='font-size:8.0pt'> 14 IV. Public ro cess Leading to App roval of Plan Bay A rea
15 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 61. ABAG and MTC formally initiated the scoping pro cess for Plan Bay Ar ea on June style='font-size:9.0pt'> 16 11, 2012, en ag encies sent py the of Prep ation ( ―NO style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>P‖) the State style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 Clearinghouse within the California fi ce of Planning and Resea rch. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 62. During the period leading up to the approval of Pl B style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay A rea and the certific ation of style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 its EIR, A BAG and MTC held a number of public rkshops and public hearin gs. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 20 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 63. The r aft E IR for Plan B ay A rea as rele as ed on Ap ril 2, 2013. Despite re ceiving a style='font-size:9.5pt'> 21 number of re quests from org aniz ations and individuals to e xtend the comment pe riod, in order to style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 fully a na ly ze the voluminous EIR, MTC and ABAG refus ed to extend the comment p e yond style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> the minimum 45-d ay p eriod requir by A. 24 25 style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 style='font-size:6.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";position:relative; top:-4.5pt'>2 style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>In fact, he act im pro ve me over t Plan l ike ly be as these nu mbe rs a re un derest imat es because t his style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";position:relative; top:-3.0pt'>27 alte rnat ive was m odeled diffe style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>rent ly t han t plan. style='font-size:6.5pt'> 28
style='font-size:14.0pt'> Veri Petition for Writ of Ma ndate style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 16 1
style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 culminat ed on Ju ly 18, 2013 in a joint A BAG/M TC heari ng to approve the Final Plan and the Final style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 EIR. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 65. Petition er Communiti for a B etter Environment submitted comm ents to the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 EIR, and made commen ts during public h eari ngs on the E It m ade co mments on its own behalf, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 6 and also as part of the 6 Wins Networ the concerns rai sed in its comments w ere: the EIR‘s style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 ana style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>lysis of greenhouse gas emissions, con cerns about style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> sea-lev el ris e, the EIR‘s failu re to anl yze style='font-size:9.5pt'> 8 goods movement issues, the EI R‘s f ailure to ade quate ly ana style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>ly style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ze alt ern ative pro such as the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 ―Environm Equi ty and Jobs‖ alt ativ the E ce C EQA, ansp ortation style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 funding un der the Plan, and the Pl an‘s eff ects on displ acement. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 66. Petition rra Club submitted written comments to the EIR. Amo ng the issues style='font-size:9.5pt'> 12 raised in its comments were: concerns about the exp ansion of highway lan es, conc erns about the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 13 insuffici ent investm ent in public transport ation, c oncerns about the vi ty of Priori style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ty Dev elopment style='font-size:9.5pt'> 14 Areas, conc erns about Priority Conse rvation Areas, and conc erns about the EIR‘s f ailure to style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 adequate style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>ly ana style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>ly ze alter native proposals, such as the ―Environm Equi style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>ty Jobs‖ alternativ e. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 16 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 67. During the ritten m ri od and public hearings on the E IR, Caltra ns and style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 various o rgani zations and individuals comm about the planning ag encie s‘ obligation to style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 consider ― mov ement‖ as part the Plan, as ell as public h other style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 concerns associated with truck traffic and other modes of ansport ation. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 20 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 68. Various groups, such as the Chinatown Community D evelopm ent Center and Public style='font-size:9.5pt'> 21 Advoc ates on behalf of a coalition of groups also commented on the risks of displ acement cr ea ted by style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 the Plan, ell as the environme ntal eff ects of su c ement. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 69. During Joint A and me on June 2013, issue ―Goods style='font-size:9.5pt'> 24 Movement al L ands‖ as aised as ―Additional Initiative‖ a nd/or ―Priority f or Pl an style='font-size:9.5pt'> 25 Bay Area style='letter-spacing:.35pt'> Imp style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>lement ation.‖ Ac cordi ng to the a gen su implem measures should style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> be style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 ― added the fi nal Plan B style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay Area as ey are f or work by ABAG and MTC.‖ style='font-size:9.5pt'> 27 Specific l with esp ect mov industrial issues, ag en stat ―[t ]he style='font-size:9.5pt'> 28 movement of e ight and the protection of prod uction and distribution f acilities has important
style='font-size:14.0pt'> Veri Petition for Writ of Ma ndate style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 17 1 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
style='font-size:9.5pt'> style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>2 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Goods Move ment Study style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";letter-spacing: .05pt'>and related land use ana style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>lysis, MTC/ABAG will ev aluate the needs r elat ed to style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 d evelopm ent, stor age a nd movement of goods through our region and identify essential industrial style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 areas style='letter-spacing:.3pt'> to suppo the style='letter-spacing:.4pt'> regi on‘s style='letter-spacing:.3pt'> economic style='letter-spacing:.3pt'> vita lit y.‖ style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 70. During a June 20, 2013 ABAG E xecutive Committee Meetin g, the committee voted style='font-size:9.5pt'> 6 to include goods move ment and industrial l ands issues as a me asure that would be part of the Plan style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 Bay Are a. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 8 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 71. The la ngu age add to the acknowl edg that ―the movement fre ig ht, and the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 p ction of production and distribution businesses ha ve import ant envir onmental, economic and style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 equity impli for the re gion.‖ Summary Major Revisions style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> and Corr to the Draft Pl an style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 Bay Are a, pp. 28 -29 (July 2013). style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> Yet, the Plan app ears to take few pr acti cal measur es to deal with style='font-size:9.5pt'> 12 the expected in creas es in goods movement and de al with the eff ects of these increas es, other than to style='font-size:9.5pt'> 13 state that the a ge ncies will work with local businesses and jurisdictions, and other a ge style='letter-spacing:.3pt'>ncies, to style='font-size:9.5pt'> 14 identify fundi ng, update study information and develop best pra ctic Despite this inclusion of style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 goods mov ement lan gu age in the Plan, the style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>EIR contains no discussion in p ct description of style='font-size:9.5pt'> 16 projected incr ea ses in the volume of goods mov em ent throu gh loc ansp ortation hubs, no style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 meaningful ana style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>lysis of goods movement trends, and no an l ysis of how g oods movement measures style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 might inte ract with other aspe cts of the Plan. Fur thermo re, d espite having h en efit of the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 goods mov ement studies previous ly prep ared by MTC, the E IR does not contain any of the findi ngs style='font-size:9.5pt'> 20 from those studies regar ding goods movement trends, the environmental impacts of goods style='font-size:9.5pt'> 21 movement, or miti gation measur es that w ere e xplored in those studi es. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 72. The Final EIR was rel eas ed in Ju ly 2013, prior to the final public he aring on the Plan style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 and EIR. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 24 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 73. On Thursd style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay, July 18, 2013, ABAG and MTC he ld a joint hearing to app rove the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 25 Final Plan and the Final EIR. The he aring w as ov ev en hours long, and in the early hours of July style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 19, 2013, the ag enc ies agreed to adopt the Plan and certify the style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>EIR. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 27 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 74. The Notice of D rmin ation for B style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay Area w as filed on Friday, July 19, 2013. 28 style='font-size:5.0pt'>
Veri Petition for Writ of Ma ndate style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 18 1 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 discrep an cies b etwe en some of the figu res s et for th in the Final EIR and the final revisions to the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 Plan, which hi i ght how the age ncies have rushed through the public pr ocess and towards appro val style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 of the Pl an. style='font-size:8.0pt'> 5 FIRST CAUSE OF ACTIONstyle='font-size:8.0pt'> 6 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Violation of CEQA – Public R esources Code Sections 21000 eq. and the CEQA Gui del ines, Cal. Code of Regs., Tit. 14, S ections 15000 et seq. 7 ABAG and MTC Fail ed to Provi de In for mati on upon Which Conclusions A re Based8 76. Petition re -alleg e, as if ful style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly set forth hein, e ach and ev ry all egation contained 9 in the preceding p aragra phs. 10 77. The poli cy un der style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>lyi ng CEQA to ―d evelop maintain hi gh -qu ality environme nt 11 now and in the e, a nd take all action necess ary to protect, re habilit and enha nce the 12 environmental quality of style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> the stat (C al. Pub. R es. § 21001(a Un der style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> CEQ A, an EIR style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> must 13 ―info governm ent d ecisio n-mak t he p ublic the potential, signifi environmental 14 effe of propos activiti es,‖ and ―id fy wa that environ mental damage can be avoided or 15 significantly r educed .‖ (Cal. style='letter-spacing:.25pt'> Code style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> Re tit. style='letter-spacing:.25pt'> 14, § style='letter-spacing:.25pt'> 15002.) 16 78. To fulfill these ctiv es, CEQA equir that an E pro vide an ― ana style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>lyti cal style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly 17 style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";letter-spacing: -.05pt'>compl coh ent style='letter-spacing:.25pt'> e xplan ation‖ of its style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> conclusions. (Vine Ar Citiz for style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> Responsible 18 Growth v. of cho (2007) C al. 412, 439-40.) style='letter-spacing:2.25pt'> ―The data EIR not 19 only be su fficient in quantity, it must be pr esented in a mann er calcul ated to adequ ly inform the 20 public and d ecision makers, style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> who may be previous ly familiar with style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> the details of the project.‖ style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> ( Id. 21 at 442.) Mo reo ver, EIR that purports to r ely upon a future ana style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>lysis or that does not prop ly 22 inco ate or r efe ren ce a a rate style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>ly p erfo rmed an al ysis does not adequ ate ly info rm the public. style='letter-spacing:.35pt'>(Id. 23 at 440-41, s also Cal. R gs. 14, 15151 (providing EIR contain ―a 24 sufficient de gr ee of an l ysis to provide decisio n-mak ers with information which en ables them to 25 make a d ecision style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> which style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> intelli gent style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>ly tak account style='letter-spacing:.3pt'> of environmental style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> con se quen ‖); Laurel Heights 26 I e ment Ass’n v. Regents of the Univ. of Cal. (1988) 47 Cal. 3d 376, 404, intern al citation 27 omitted (―the must disclosure of the a na style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>lyt style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ic route the . ag en style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>cy tr aveled from evide nce to 28
style='font-size:14.0pt'> Veri Petition for Writ of Ma ndate style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 19 1 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 an app is not a substitute for a good faith re asoned ana style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>lysis.‖ (Vin ey ard, 40 Cal. style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> 4th at 442.) style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 79. The EIR for the Proje ct f ails to properly info rm the public and de cision makers of the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 basis for its co nclusions. These failu res include, but a re not limited to, the g: style='font-size:9.5pt'> style='color:red'>5 a) A failu re to provide ade quate information regardi ng style='color:red;letter-spacing:-.05pt'>fundi ng and style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 6 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> implementation for the transport ef orms that are pro pos ed under the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Plan, including anspor tation rrms intended to serve the Priority style='font-size:9.5pt'> 8 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Development A reas. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> b) A f ailure to provide information reg arding the fea sibility of, and style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> implementation of, miti gation measures to combat the eff ects of de velopm ent style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> in areas subje ct to sea-l evel rise. style='font-size:9.5pt'> style='color:red'>12 c) A failu re to proper style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>ly an y style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ze the environmental imp he miles of new style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 13 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> fr eew style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay la nes added in t he Plan. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 14 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> d) A f ailure to an l yze the environme ntal eff ects of style='color:red'>goods movement measures style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> and their inte ation into the RTP. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 16 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> e) A failu re to include, con sider and a na ly ze the information on goods move ment style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> in MTC‘s 2004 and 2009 r eports on goods movement. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> f) The E IR fails to present in an ad equ ly informa tive mann er the assumptions style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> upon which its land use and emissions modeling is bas ed. Instead of cle ly style='font-size:9.5pt'> 20 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> and cohe rent style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly explaining the assumptions contained in l and use and style='font-size:9.5pt'> 21 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> e style='color:red'>missions models such as EMFAC and U rb anSim—with respect to issues style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> such as mod eling for as pects of goods movement—or modeling emissions style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> reductions ach iev ed from LCFS and P avl style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ey, the EIR leaves the public style='font-size:9.5pt'> 24 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> scrambling betw een the DEIR, t he E IR es ponses to comm ents, vari ous style='font-size:9.5pt'> 25 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> appendices, and explan ar ate and ap art f rom the One Bay Ar ea style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> website to understand the basis for the modeli ng done to anl ze the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 27 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> environme ntal impacts of the Plan. 28 style='font-size:5.0pt'>
Veri Petition for Writ of Ma ndate style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 20 1 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> no environme gnif ican ce from the Plan‘s effects on gr eenhouse g as style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> emissions in the t ransportation sector. When an al yzi ng the Plan‘s effects on style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 greenhouse gas emissions traje ctories, the EIR looks at emissions from style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> various v ehicle classes (i.e., passeng er vehicl es, tru cks, buses), and then style='font-size:9.5pt'> 6 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> subtracts emissions redu ctions that will be achieved f rom measu res style='font-size:9.5pt'> 7 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> implemented s epa rate ly from the Plan, such Low Carbon F uel Standard style='font-size:9.5pt'> 8 and P ey an Car standards. style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> It is only these r eductions from other style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> style='color:red'>9 progr ams that result in a finding that tr ansport g reenhouse gas emissions style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> style='color:red'>10 will decline by 2040. H owev er, the E es it app ear th at the reduction in style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> style='color:red'>11 g style='color:red;letter-spacing:.05pt'>reenhouse gas emissions is due to the Plan itself. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 12 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> h) Like wis e, the E IR conta ins misleading co nclusions that there will be no style='font-size:9.5pt'> 13 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> environme gnif ica nce from the Plan‘s eff in its analysis of style='font-size:9.5pt'> 14 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> greenhouse gas emissions in the land use ctor. When ana ly zing the Pla n‘s style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> effe cts on gr eenhouse g as emissions trajectori es, the E IR looks style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>at emissions style='font-size:9.5pt'> 16 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> from hous eholds, comm ercial, office and industrial l and uses, and then style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> subtracts emissions that will be achieved thro ugh AB 32 Scopi ng Plan style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> reductions. It is only these reductions from other programs th esult in a style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> finding that land use g reenhouse gas emissions will decline by 2040. style='font-size:9.5pt'> style='color:red'>20 Howev er, the EIR makes it app at the reduct style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ion in gre enhouse gas style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> 21 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> e style='color:red'>missions is due to the Plan its elf. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> i) The EIR also contains m style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>isleading conclusions regarding the eff ects of the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Plan on displacement of low -income and minority communities, and also style='font-size:9.5pt'> 24 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> contains misl eading con clusions reg arding alt ernativ s‘ abili style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ty to mitigate style='font-size:9.5pt'> 25 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> displacement risks. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 80. These failur es precluded informed decisio n-maki ng, including the info rm ed style='font-size:9.5pt'> 27 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> comparison of reasona ble altern atives to the Project. 28 style='font-size:5.0pt'>
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style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 information to support their conclusions constitutes a pr ejudicial abuse of disc retion, since th style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>ey style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 failed to proceed in the manner required by CEQA. style='font-size:8.0pt'> 4 SECOND C AUSE OF AC TION5 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> Violation of CEQA - Public esou rces Code Sections 21000 et s eq. and the Gui delin es, Cal. Code of Regs., Tit. 14, Sections 15000 et seq. 6 ABAG and MTC Fail ed to Provi de a Clear nd Accu rate Pro je ct De scri ption7 82. Petition re -alleg e, as if ful style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly set forth herein, e ach and ev ry all egation contained 8 in the pr ecedi ng parag raphs. 9 83. CEQA is a e hensive statute design ed to p rovide for long-te rm prot ion of the 10 environme nt. In e nacti ng CEQ A, the st ate Le l d eclar ed its intention that all public agen cies 11 responsible style='letter-spacing:1.55pt'> for style='letter-spacing:1.55pt'> regulati ng a affecting style='letter-spacing:1.35pt'> the style='letter-spacing:1.7pt'> environme give style='letter-spacing:1.55pt'> prime consideration style='letter-spacing:1.95pt'> ―to 12 preventing environme nt al damag e, while providing a de cent home and satis fyi ng living environment 13 for eve style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ry Califo rnian.‖ (C Pub. R § style='letter-spacing:.25pt'> 21000( g).) 14 84. To this en equ ires that an EIR include a cle ar and ac cur roj ect 15 description and that the nature and objective of a proj ect be fully disclosed and fly e valuat ed in 16 the EIR. style='letter-spacing:2.05pt'> Spe al style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>ly, an E proje de scription des ―[ stat of obj ectives 17 sought by p ropos proje ct,‖ which ―should the und l ying purpose the roj ect.‖ style='letter-spacing:2.65pt'> (C al. 18 Code Regs. style='letter-spacing:1.1pt'> tit. 14, style='letter-spacing:1.05pt'> § 15 124(b).) ―A style='letter-spacing:1.05pt'> clear style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly w st atement style='letter-spacing:1.05pt'> of obje ctives style='letter-spacing:1.2pt'> will style='letter-spacing:1.1pt'> help the style='letter-spacing:1.05pt'> lead style='letter-spacing:1.05pt'> ag en cy 19 develop a reasona ble ran ge of alt ern atives to evaluate in the EIR and will aid the d ecision makers in 20 preparing findin or style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> a stat ement of over riding conside if nec r y.‖ ( T he E must 21 also contain ―[ ge ner d es of the projec t‘s t al, economi and environmental 22 chara ristics, considering ri ncipal en gine ering proposals if a style='letter-spacing:.2pt'>ny and supporting public service 23 facilities.‖ (Cal. Code R gs. 14, 15124(c).) style='letter-spacing:2.4pt'> An ―a ccu rat stable and p roje description 24 style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>is the sine qua non of info rmative and l egal style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ly suffi EIR.‖ (County of Inyo v. City of Los 25 Ang eles, (1977) 71 Cal. App. 3d 185, 192 ). 26 85. The EIR approv by A BAG and MTC f ails to provide a cle ar and a ccu rate 27 description of the Proj ect, in violation of CEQA. For e xampl e: 28
style='font-size:14.0pt'> Veri Petition for Writ of Ma ndate style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> 22 1 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
style='font-size:9.5pt'> 2 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> EIR and responses to c omments, the agencies have fail ed to consistently r er style='font-size:9.5pt'> 3 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> to the Plan as an RTP or an SCS. The an al ysis c hang es b etwe en a na ly zing the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 4 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> SCS as a distin ct and anal yzi ng the RTP. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 5 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> b) Despite ev entu al approv al of goods movement lan gu age in the final Plan, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 6 and feder al r ements that RTPs integr ate goods movement measures, t he style='font-size:9.5pt'> style='color:red'>7 proje ct description of the style='color:red;letter-spacing:.05pt'>EIR fa ils to contain any discussion of goods style='font-size:9.5pt;color:red'> style='color:red'>8 movement. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 9 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 86. In respondi ng to CBE‘s comm aising its con cerns with the treatm ent of goods style='font-size:9.5pt'> 10 movement under the B AG M TC that the Plan includes ―sp ecific T rade style='font-size:9.5pt'> 11 Corridor style='letter-spacing:.2pt'> Improv Fund style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> (T CI proje cts,‖ that style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> were identified style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> throu MTC‘s style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> 2004 2009 style='font-size:9.5pt'> 12 goods mov ement a na style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>lys es. Howev er, no ne of these proj ects are discussed style='color:red;letter-spacing:.1pt'>in the p ct description. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 13 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 87. The a ge ncies also conte nd that p roposed e dy includ ―n umerous style='font-size:9.5pt'> 14 projects th provide be nefits mov ement,‖ ―grade s epa rations, investm at the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 15 Oakland my B as gi ng in Contra Costa Coun style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ty se rving the Port of Stockton, highw style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay style='font-size:9.5pt'> 16 improvements such style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> as tru lan and proj ects style='letter-spacing:.15pt'> th improve freew style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ay o pe rations.‖ Yet none of th ese style='font-size:9.5pt'> 17 measures are ess ed individually or colle ctively in the project description. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 18 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 88. The failure to d escribe the Project a ccu rate ly pre vented the EIR from includin g, style='font-size:9.5pt'> 19 among other gs, an accu rate ana style='letter-spacing:.25pt'>lysis and discussion of environme ntal impacts from the style='font-size:9.5pt'> 20 proposal, appro pri g as ures, and c onsideration of a reasona ble r an ge of alt ern atives to style='font-size:9.5pt'> 21 the Project. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 22 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 89. These omissions prevent the E IR f rom mee style='letter-spacing:.15pt'>ting CEQ A‘s goals of providing an style='font-size:9.5pt'> 23 ― ac curate, st fini te proj ect des cription,‖ a nd prev the from b ly ap praised of style='font-size:9.5pt'> 24 the environme ntal impac ts of the proposed Plan. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 25 style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> 90. The ag en cies‘ a ction cer tif ying the E IR without an adequ ate proj ect descri ption style='font-size:9.5pt'> 26 constitutes a ejudi cial abuse of disc retion, since they ail ed to p ro the er requir by style='font-size:9.5pt'> 27 CEQA. style='font-size:9.5pt'> 28
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