SACOG Conformity Determination

5. COMPARING ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FUTURES
HOW DOES SACOG ANALYZE AND COMPARE ALTERNATIVE FUTURES?
In developing an MTP, SACOG uses travel demand models to examine how the
transportation system works, now and in the future, under alternative scenarios. Modeling is
also used to project harmful air emissions for air quality conformity purposes.
Transportation models run on a computer, making millions of calculations quickly. In simplest
terms, the models add up the travel behavior of all of the people in the Sacramento region
and explain how that affects the transportation system. Models can provide information about
travel today, and forecast travel in the future, but do not make decisions. A brief summary of how
SACOG's two models work can be found in the Appendix J. Modeling assumptions are found in
Appendix D.
SACOG also uses data, research, and mapping to look at the impacts of the transportation
system on surrounding communities and the natural environment. A summary of the
community and environmental impacts of the MTP 2025 is found below; those wanting more
information on these impacts should refer to the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) accompanying
the MTP 2025 and the Addendum to the EIR developed for this 2006 MTP.
WHAT ALTERNATIVE FUTURES WERE CONSIDERED?
In preparing the MTP 2025, the Roundtable developed study alternatives that separately
emphasized transit, roads, and community design, comparing those to each other and to the existing
1999 MTP. The resulting preferred alternative was a hybrid that performed better on many
measures than the 1999 MTP.
In this plan, two alternative transportation futures were compared -- the MTP 2025 and the 2006
MTP. Here is how they are different:
• The timeframe for the MTP 2025 was 2002-2025 and the timeframe for the 2006 MTP is
2006-2027.
• The 2006 MTP project list is the same as the MTP 2025 project list except for projects that
have been built since 2002, and therefore eliminated, and a few new projects that have been
added. These new projects are largely developer-built serving areas that were indicated for
development in the MTP 2025, where development has progressed to the point that actual
roads are now designated.
• Some projects have changed in scope or cost since the MTP 2025 was completed, but the
changes are minor.
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