LOS ANGELES — The California Supreme Court has agreed to review an appellate court ruling that the San Diego Association of Government's 40-year transportation plan did not meet requirements for reducing greenhouse emissions.
The appellate court judges, in a split 3-2 ruling, found in a Nov. 24 ruling that SANDAG's 2050 regional transportation plan, finalized in 2011, did not meet the requirements of Assembly Bill 32, a California law that placed restrictions on greenhouse emissions.
The Cleveland National Forest Foundation, Attorney General Kamala Harris and a bevy of environmental groups filed a lawsuit in 2012 challenging the long-range plan that involves $214 billion in transportation projects.
AB32 aims to reduce greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Opponents argue that SANDAG's plan fails to take that goal into account partly by prioritizing freeway expansion over public transportation.
"The Supreme Court's decision to grant review is a key step forward to help clarify state law on greenhouse gas emissions," SANDAG Chairman Jack Dale said. "The appellate court decision left agencies throughout the state with questions on what standards to apply. We are hopeful the court will help resolve the confusion."
The state Supreme Court announced on Wednesday it would hear arguments on whether the transportation plan's environmental impact report must include an analysis of its consistency with the California Environmental Quality Act's greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, SANDAG officials said Thursday.
