A new report from the Mineta Transportation Institute examines the possible economic impact if local governments do not conform with state-mandated regional efforts to lower greenhouse gas levels—including the impact on public transportation. The report focuses on the Sacramento, CA, region.

California law requires regional governments to develop land use and transportation plans or Sustainable Community Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas levels, primarily through cutting vehicle miles traveled. Local municipalities in the state have authority over land development decisions, however, and are not required to conform to the regional plan.

The study uses a spatial economic model to examine the possible impact of this lack of conformance. It covers four scenarios in which the effect of a jurisdiction’s nonconformity to the regional plan resulted in different combinations of centralization or decentralization of employment and housing in the region.

The text of Potential Economic Consequences of Local Nonconformity to Regional Land Use and Transportation Plans Using a Spatial Economic Model is available online.