In late January, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission approved an ambitious set of targets to increase the sustainability and decrease the car dependency of the Bay Area. The Commission set these targets as part of the Sustainable Communities Strategy planning process for the region.

As we wrote three weeks ago, overall the targets are pretty good.  We really like the following goals:

• Adequate Housing: House 100% of the region’s projected 25-year growth by income level (very-low, low, moderate, above-moderate) without displacing current low-income residents;
• Healthy & Safe Communities: Increase the average daily time walking or biking per person for transportation by 60% (for an average of 15 minutes per person per day);
• Open Space & Agricultural Preservation: Direct all non-agricultural development within the urban footprint (existing urban development and urban growth boundaries);
• Equitable Access: Decrease by 10% the share of low-income and lower-middle income residents’ household income consumed by transportation and housing.

Download the full set of targets (pdf).

We agree with transportation advocates that the Commission could have out out stronger on the “Transportation System Effectiveness” goals, but overall we are pleased that the Commission is planning in the right direction.