State releases final plan to transform freight system
Collaborative effort highlights new technologies to improve air
quality, help economy grow
Sacramento – In response to an Executive Order issued last year
by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., state agency leaders today
released the California Sustainable Freight Action Plan, a
comprehensive document that serves as a blueprint for
transforming the state's multi-billion dollar freight transport
system into one that is environmentally cleaner, more efficient,
and more economically competitive than it is today.
The revised document is similar to the draft version issued in
May 2016, but reflects new input provided by industry, labor,
regional and local government, and community and environmental
group stakeholders, who submitted more than 85 comments on the
draft plan.
"We listened to stakeholders, incorporated changes, and we will
continue to consult with them as we put the Plan into action"
said California Air Resources Board Chair Mary D. Nichols. "This
dialogue -- and a commitment to shared responsibility for and
ownership of this plan-- is the underpinning for the successful
transformation of our freight transport system and the multiple
benefits it will bring to our environment, communities and our
economy."
Developed in response to Governor Brown's Executive Order
B-32-15, which calls for a single integrated action plan for
California, the Action Plan was prepared by the California State
Transportation Agency, California Environmental Protection
Agency, California Natural Resources Agency, California Air
Resources Board, California Department of Transportation,
California Energy Commission and the Governor's Office of
Business and Economic Development, with broad stakeholder input.
"The Sustainable Freight Action Plan reflects the hard work done
by the partners to address the needs of the freight industry,"
said Governor Brown's senior jobs adviser Mike Rossi. "GO-Biz
will continue working with our stakeholders in the business
community to see that the Action Plan builds upon ongoing efforts
to modernize the freight industry while reducing emissions and
keeping it competitive through commercially viable and affordable
technologies."
The Executive Order directs the state agencies to pursue a shared
vision to "improve freight efficiency, transition to
zero-emission technologies and increase the competitiveness of
California's freight system." Benefits include meeting the
state's freight infrastructure, public health, air quality and
climate goals.
The Action Plan includes a long term-2050 vision and guiding
principles for California's future freight transport system along
with these targets for 2030:
•Improve freight system efficiency 25 percent by 2030.
•Deploy over 100,000 zero-emission vehicles/equipment and
maximize near-zero by 2020.
•Foster future economic growth within the freight and goods
movement industry.
The plan also identifies opportunities to leverage State freight
transport system investments, pinpoints actions to initiate over
the next five years to meet goals, and lists possible pilot
projects to achieve concrete progress in the near term.
"This Sustainable Freight Action Plan reflects an investment
strategy that's right for California: expand economic
development, create jobs and protect our environment. The plan
doesn't choose between these objectives, but proposes strategies
to achieve them all. I look forward to turning this plan into
action," said California State Transportation Agency Secretary
Brian P. Kelly.
Among the new additions to the final plan are placing more focus
on key partnerships and a discussion of toxic hot spots. Changes
have also been made throughout the document to clarify and
emphasize the collaboration between the responsible agencies and
other regional planning efforts, including funding.
"The Energy Commission appreciates the collaboration amongst our
sister agencies and engaged stakeholders across the state to
develop an action plan to address Governor Brown's call to action
on sustainable freight," said Energy Commissioner Janea A. Scott.
"We look forward to working with our partners to refine and
prioritize the strategies and actions identified in the Action
Plan and to carrying out actions that will help California to
meet its clean air standards and climate goals."
Next steps for state agencies will include continued work with
federal, state, industry, labor, regional, local and
environmental and community-based partners to refine and
prioritize the strategies and actions outlined in the Action
Plan. The state agencies will also create collaborative
stakeholder working groups on competitiveness, system efficiency,
workforce developments, and regulatory and permitting process
improvements.
Regular California Freight Advisory Committee meetings will
continue, and by July 2017, the state agencies will establish
work plans for chosen pilot projects.
Currently, California is the nation's largest gateway for
international trade and domestic commerce, with an interconnected
system of ports, railroads, highways and roads that allow freight
from around the world to move throughout the state and nation.
This system is responsible for one-third of the state's economic
product and jobs, with freight dependent industries accounting
for over $740 billion in gross domestic product and over five
million jobs in 2014.
For more information about California's Freight Plan:
http://www.casustainablefreight.org/
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GOBIZ)
Brook Taylor, 916-322-0667 brook.taylor@gov.ca.gov
California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA)
Nancy Vogel 916-653-9402 nancy.vogel@resources.ca.gov
California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
Alex Barnum, 916-324-9670 alex.barnum@calepa.ca.gov
California State Transportation Agency (CaLSTA)
Melissa Figueroa, 916-445-3545
melissa.figueroa@calsta.ca.gov
California Air Resources Board (CARB)
Karen Caesar, 626-575-6728 karen.caesar@arb.ca.gov
Stanley Young, 916-956-9409 stanley.young@arb.ca.gov
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
Tamie McGowen, 916-654-5782 tamie.mcgowen@dot.ca.gov
California Energy Commission (CEC)
Linda Rapatonni, 916-654-4989 linda.rapatonni@energy.ca.gov
Albert Lundeen, 916-654-4989 albert.lundeen@energy.ca.gov
California is in a drought emergency.
Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.
You are receiving this single arbcombo email because you are a
subscriber to or have made a public comment to one or more of the
following lists: gmbond, hdghg, sip.
======================================================================
You are subscribed to one of the lists aggregated to make this
particular ARB combination listserve broadcast. To UNSUBSCRIBE:
Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter
your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists."
To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it
and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will
receive an automatic email message confirming that you have
successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer
at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm .
The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian
needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For
a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy
costs, visit the Flex Alert website at www.flexalert.org .
======================================================================
