SACOG Conformity Determination

4. MEETING THE PLAN’S GOALS
HOW THE 2006 MTP MEETS SACOG’S TRANSPORTATION PLAN GOALS
Based on an analysis of transportation and related issues in the region, the MTP 2025
Roundtable developed ten carefully worded goals that were adopted by the SACOG Board of
Directors in October 2000. Table 4 lists the goals that guided development of the MTP 2025. Few
would disagree with these goals, but each one entails some unanswered questions, policy issues,
and trade-offs. A brief discussion of each goal, issues relating to it, and what the 2006 MTP
does or does not do to meet the goal follows below.
The MTP 2025 also used a set of performance indicators to measure progress toward these
goals. Please refer to the MTP 2025 document for these indicators. The 2006 MTP uses these
same performance indicators for two scenarios, the transportation system in 2005 and the
transportation system in 2027 with projects included in this plan. These are shown in Table 6
and Maps 3 and 4 (in the next chapter), where they are explored in greater detail.
1. OVERARCHING GOAL: QUALITY OF LIFE:
Develop a fully-integrated, multi-modal transportation system to serve as a catalyst to enhance the
quality of life enjoyed by the current and future residents of the Sacramento region.
"Quality of life" is defined in different ways, but people tend to know when it's getting better or
getting worse for themselves. For most people, quality of life includes some consideration of
housing, jobs, schools, neighborhood, environment, and lifestyle activities. SACOG heard
testimony praising the vitality of urban communities and disparaging the blandness and isolation of
suburban communities, but a California Poll in Spring 2002 found the greatest satisfaction with
quality of life in the suburbs, with Roseville highest in the region. This overarching goal served as
the anchor for development of the other goals of the MTP 2025.
Questions and Trade-offs: Because quality of life means different things to different people, it
becomes hard to measure. Some people, for whom flexibility is most important, want to be able to
drive anywhere anytime. Others, for whom a clean environment matters more, want people to leave
autos at home and ride transit or bicycle more often. The components of quality of life involve
investment and policy trade-offs, affecting economic development, community services, land
development, open space, and environmental programs. Consensus often proves elusive.
What’s in the Plan: The 2006 MTP is designed to meet regional travel needs for all types of
purposes as far as financially feasible, over the long term. In the development of the MTP
2025, the Roundtable recognized that transportation is closely connected with many other issues –
such as health and safety, social equity, the environment, land use, and economic vitality – and
developed goals and actions in the MTP to address these issues.
How the Plan Meets This Goal: The test of meeting this goal is the success of the plan in meeting
all of its other goals.
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