Alameda Point

Letters from the Community

August 12th, 2009

Alameda is a city known for its vigorous political debate and its well-informed citizenry. We would like to encourage that debate by periodically acknowledging the people who have offered thoughtful insights about the Alameda Point Revitalization Initiative.

 Posted below is a letter sent to a local newspaper we think is worthy of your attention.

 

 

What it means to be green

By Nancy Heastings – Alameda Sun: Aug. 6, 2009

 

The Alameda Sun (July 30) contained two pieces dealing with climate change and being green: Julia Park Tracey’s amusing “The Ice Age Cometh” and Gretchen Lipow’s letter criticizing the SunCal plan as being anti-green. It made me curious to check out just what it really means to be green when it comes to land development.

 

According to a recent ABAG (Association of Bay Area Governments) newsletter (May/June 2009), 50 percent of Bay Area greenhouse gases come from transportation as compared to the rest of the world at 14 percent. In the Bay Area, a 20 to 40 percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) can be achieved with compact development as compared to sprawl.

 

The SunCal plan calls for compact development with the inclusion of condos, townhomes and apartments, in addition to single-family homes, which enables more compact development. A compact development means less reliance on the automobile for several reasons. It promotes mixed-use, meaning businesses, retail, civic, recreational uses and housing co-exist, greatly reducing the distances that need to be traveled for every day needs or amenities. It supports walking and biking as alternatives to the car due to these shorter distances and the completeness of the neighborhood; and it supports public transportation options and frequency of service, because there are enough residents who live close enough to use public transportation.

 

Transportation strategies in the plan include a new ferry terminal, bus rapid transit, an EcoPass program, carshare and carpool programs, Guaranteed Ride Home Program, Community Bicycle Strategy, and Adaptive Parking Pricing.

 

These strategies de-emphasize the need for the automobile, which benefits all Alamedans in terms of traffic. And it greatly reduces carbon emissions, which is what being green really means.