When voters approved the infrastructure bonds last fall, they endorsed the need to rebuild California. These same voters now demand and deserve major, rapid transportation improvements.

Unfortunately, a measure has been introduced in the Legislature that would require regional transportation plans to include, and transportation funding decisions to be based on, preferred growth scenarios which dramatically restrict local growth. SB 375 (Steinberg) transfers local land use decisions to regional planning agencies, fundamentally altering the local planning process and inserting state control over California's local communities.

Implementation of this measure would seriously compromise established criteria for funding transportation projects through the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) by enacting new, restrictive criteria for project funding eligibility.

California is struggling with a housing imbalance and lack of infrastructure to support the current and future population of our growing state. Placing additional restrictions and limitations on growth in our local communities artificially drives up the cost of housing and limits the personal choices of California citizens.

SB 375 impedes new residential, commercial, and retail development, and the jobs and transportation improvements that go with it.