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Achieving ambitious environmental goals in the city\u2019s CAP however is running into political blowback. One example is Transit Priority Areas. TPAs are defined as any area sitting within a half-mile of one or more planned or existing transit stops.<\/p>\n
This year, the City Council voted 8-1 to reduce parking requirements to a zero minimum at new multifamily residential developments within TPAs. That\u2019s been criticized by some as a sellout to developers.<\/p>\n
But Wolfram countered that TPAs are an integral part of weaning people from their emission-belching autos.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe TPAs are in urban core neighborhoods, and the targeted goal is to have 50% of commuters taking mass transit, 18% biking and 7% walking in TPAs by 2035,\u201d Wolfram said. \u201cThat\u2019s where we are not seeing the progress we need to make to meet these targets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though San Diego\u2019s CAP goals are ambitious, and the time horizon to achieve them is short, Wolfram is nonetheless optimistic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re doable,\u201d she said. \u201cBut we need to reshape the way people move around the city. It\u2019s not going to happen on its own, or by tinkering with a bus schedule here, or painting a bike lane there.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the final analysis, Wolfram said it will ultimately be up to local government to ensure that the city\u2019s greenhouse gas emission targets are met \u2014 or not.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether the city will be able to reach its climate-action goals will depend on the level of commitment we see in the coming months and years,\u201d she said. \u201cThe city needs to make a real investment in implementing the climate-action plan. If we do that, if we muster up the political courage, we can hit those targets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Failure is not an option, said Wolfram.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is really about the health, safety and survival of future generations,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n