Transportation and land use patterns are tightly coupled. Building new roads can lead to sprawl which leads to more development farther from urban centers. Through transit-oriented development policy, development can be channeled to urban centers. As urban centers be- come more densely populated, transit, walking, and biking become more attractive and can successfully displace auto travel. Conversely, lower population density leads to an overall per capita increase in personal automobile use. A Sonoma County study showed that the further residents live from city centers, the more driving they do. In contrast, the City of Portland, Oregon, has demonstrated that aggressive and early management of land use and transportation can lead to success in reducing a community’s GHG emissions due to personal auto use.
Transportation in Sonoma County is the fastest growing source of GHG emissions, and accounted for about 59 per- cent of total emissions in 2007.70 Nearly four out of five trips made in Sonoma County are by single occupant, fossil fuel powered automobiles. Approximately $850 million leaves the County per year as payment for the fossil fuel that powers our vehicles. Given population growth projections, by 2015 the amount of dollars leaving the County for fossil vehicle fuel will rise by almost 13 percent — more if fuel cost increases are added.
Real-time Ridesharing Pilot
We’re currently working to launch a new service to allow networked groups of drivers and riders to share a ride in a matter of minutes using computers and smartphones. Pilot participants will help establish a functioning community of riders and drivers, with the goal of building a sustainable marketplace for empty seats, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and infrastructure costs.
This pilot is being implemented in Sonoma, Marin and Contra Costa counties through funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission‚ Climate Initiative Program. The Climate Protection Campaign works with the Sonoma County Transportation Authority, the lead agency, to implement this project.
You can read more on our real-time ridesharing page and sign up for our update list below: