1. EPA’s Development, Community and Environment Division: T ools for Evaluating Smart Growth and Climate Change February 28, 2002 Ilana Preuss

2. n Urbanized land area in the US quadrupled since 1954 - from 1950 to 1990, large metro land areas increased twice as fast as their populations n From 1980 to 1997, VMT grew by 63%, almost 3 times the rate of population growth –Average length of work trips rose by 36% from ‘83-‘95 n In 1997, the transportation sector emitted 32% of the US CO 2 emissions from fossil fuels –Projected to grow by 47.5% from 1996-2020 How do current development patterns impact Environmental Quality?

3. How can Smart Growth address Environmental Impacts? n Current development patterns have large impacts on the environment, including climate change and water. n Smart Growth promotes choices & alternatives: –variety of transportation options and housing opportunities –mixed land uses –preserves open space & directs development to existing communities

4. Activities of EPA’s Development, Community and Environment Division n Information-sharing through the Smart Growth Network –EPA created 3 years ago –national, regional and local partners and members encourage environmentally, fiscally, and socially smart metropolitan development n Exploring innovative policy opportunities n Tool Development –Smart Growth INDEX model (SGI) –Water model

5. Smart Growth INDEX (SGI) Overview n Community Sketch Planning Analytic Tool n Compare impacts and outcomes from alternative development scenarios n Enhances local decision-making capacity for: Cleaner air and water Reduction of CO 2 emissions Protection of wetlands Restoration of brownfields Protection of open space Better transportation planning

6. SGI: A Sketch Planning Tool n Can be applied in any community or region with a GIS n Generates outputs useful to both technical and non- technical users n Operates in two different modes: –Projects environmental impacts from future growth patterns (forecast mode) –Calculates environmental impacts at a moment in time (snapshot mode) n Simultaneously addresses changes in vehicle travel with changes in land use patterns

7. SGI’s value to states and communities n Models and displays impacts that may not otherwise be highlighted in traditional models –Promotes the principles of Smart Growth n Provides more sophisticated tool to communities without access or resources to run more advanced models n Variety of uses: master plans, transit station plans, environmental reviews, brownfields v. greenfield comparisons, air quality and climate impacts n A valuable tool for public involvement –clear visualization of trade-offs

8. Inputs: SGI Data Requirements n Land use plan n Housing data (single or multifamily) n Employment data (service, retail or other) n Existing and future street centerlines n Transit routes n Population and Employment Growth projects (in forecast mode)

9. Outputs: Sample SGI Indicators n Population density (residents/sq. mi) n Land use mix n Housing transit proximity n Employment transit proximity n Vehicle miles traveled/day/capita n Air pollution (lbs/yr/capita from criteria pollutants) n Climate Change (CO 2 /tons/yr/capita) n Energy consumption n Park space availability/access

10. SGI Output Display Source: MD Office of Planning

11. SGI Models Development Alternatives Source: San Antonio, TX

12. SGI Pilot Communities n OPEI selected 20 communities with: –the ability to create environmental benefits through smart growth approaches –adequate technical, data, and staffing requirements to run the model n In addition to local governments, EPA continues to work with NJ, MD and MN n Wrapped up Phase I as of January 31, 2002

13. Sites: DE - Wilmington n Examined brownfield redevelopment scenarios in Wilmington, DE n Targeting development alternatives on particular sites: –high density residential –intense commercial –industrial development

14. n Study area at Fells Point in Baltimore, MD n Generation of new jobs and housing n Examined air quality impacts –Reduction in VMT, emissions and green- house gases Sites: MD - Digital Harbor

15. Hudson, MA pilot project to examine the impact of 2 development proposals –Intel jobs –Condo units n Examines the proximity of residential development to available transit Sites: MA - Metropolitan Area Planning Council

16. n Evaluation of City Plng Dept’s land use alternative and community alternative in relation to environmental impacts n Found a 6 percent decrease in GHG emissions Sites: TX - San Antonio

17. n Reporting on Phase I results n Beginning Phase II of pilot projects and site selection n Interested in working with states to partner application of SGI in communities and regions n Continually improving air quality analysis while adding water quality indicators Next Steps

18. For more Information: n Development, Community and Environment Division (DCED) –preuss.ilana@epa.gov –sprague.eric@epa.gov n For information on SGI: –www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sg_index.htm –www.crit.com