Case Study:

Sacramento, California

Context

Purpose of Study

The work documented in this case study is part of a multiyear project directed by Professor Robert Johnston at the University of California at Davis. The purposes of the project are: 1) to compare the utility of different transportation and transport-land use models at regional policy testing; 2) to test alternative transportation and land use policy scenarios in the Sacramento region; and 3) to demonstrate methods that metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) can apply to test similar scenarios in other regions. The researchers have worked with the Sacramento Council of Governments (SACOG) to obtain data and models and to formulate realistic transportation and land use alternatives.

The results have not been applied specifically in developing the regional transportation plan or regional land use policies. However, a review of SACOG's Environmental Impact Review of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) suggests the potential for future applications. The EIR references a number of issues - such as land use distributional impacts - that it would be "speculative to measure at this time." (p.24) The development and application of modeling techniques such as those described here could facilitate a broader understanding of the various environmental impacts considered in the planning process.

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