San Diego, July 26, 2023 - Today, Climate Action Campaign unveils a new report titled “Crunch Time for Climate: The City Must Double Down on Shifting Transportation Options to Reach Goals,” which presents critical recommendations to invest in transportation solutions such as bike, walk or roll, and transit.

As we have documented for years, San Diego is falling short of meeting its binding climate targets, especially related to its transportation mode shift goals. The City committed to achieving a 50% mode shift by 2035, yet recent data from 2021 shows we are only at only 13% (8% transit, 3% walking, and 2% biking). By failing to act to reach its targets, the City falls behind in providing access to equitable and just mobility options, perpetuating generations of unjust land use and underinvestment in Communities of Concern. Transportation remains the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in San Diego County, threatening our health, safety, and communities.

San Diego can lead sustainable and equitable transportation by implementing a robust Mobility Master Plan (MMP). The MMP comes at a critical time, with the San Diego region experiencing growing transportation and climate challenges.

As the City prepares to draft its first, and overdue, MMP, Climate Action Campaign’s new report serves as a valuable guide, presenting actionable steps for achieving our mode shift goals. 

With only seven years left to double our mode shift results, it’s imperative that the MMP be comprehensive, with specific timelines, benchmarks, and associated costs. Climate Action Campaign’s key recommendations for a strong MMP are as follows;

The MMP must be:

• Designed and developed to meet all mode share targets for 2030 and 2035.

• Include a calculated total projected cost to develop and implement all projects, politics,and programs to reach mode share targets.

• Include annual benchmarks and progress reporting on mode share targets.

• Prioritize investments in Communities of Concern. CalEnviroScreen and the ClimateEquity Index (CEI) are great tools the City can use to help plan and prioritize MMPactions in Communities of Concern.

• Integrate and advance other City and regional mobility plans such as Vision Zero,the Bicycle Master Plan, Safe Routes to School, Community Plan Updates (CPUs), Blueprint SD, Complete Communities, Sustainable Development Areas, and the SANDAG 2025 Regional Plan.

• Show the modeling of how existing plans will get the City to its CAP mode share goals. Not every plan needs to reach the final targets, but, in totality, the modeling needs to show reaching the 50% mode shift target. We need a data-driven and evidence-based approach.

Corinna Contreras, author of “Crunch Time for Climate,” said, “Climate breakdown is happening everywhere we look. The city has yet to prioritize investments in new climate and transportation solutions sufficient to protect our health and future. Generations of San Diegans have been waiting for healthier and safer ways to connect to critical resources. The Mobility Master Plan can meet their challenges by making walking, biking, rolling, and public transit safe and reliable. The Mobility Master Plan is key to our hope for a better tomorrow.”