Miles to Go is a radio and online series from Climate Watch, exploring the opportunities and the challenges facing California's local efforts to plan for sustainable growth.

Approximately one-quarter of all California's greenhouse gases come from passenger vehicles. But the state has ambitious goals to reduce those car-based emissions: approximately 15 percent per capita by 2035. Under California law, regional planners must find ways to blend land use and transportation planning to achieve these goals, even while the state expects to add millions of new residents in the coming years.

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Radio Series

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | MON, OCT 17, 2011

Largest 'Zero-Net' Energy Community Opens at UC Davis
UC Davis made history over the weekend with the unveiling of West Village, the nation's largest housing development designed to be "zero-net energy" -- using no more electricity than it produces. The complex is home to 800 students and faculty right now, but its boosters say that's just the beginning.

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | FRI, SEPT 30, 2011

Miles to Go: The Carrot and the Stick
If you're driving to work alone today, you have lots of company. Most Californians do, and that's a problem for local planners trying to meet new state targets for curbing greenhouse gas emissions. So what would make us change our behavior?

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | FRI, SEPT 02, 2011

How Smart Is Smart Growth in the San Joaquin Valley?
In the San Joaquin Valley, planners are encouraging community designs that help get people out of their cars. But the ideal of "smart growth" can be elusive in the Valley.

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | WED, JULY 13, 2011

'Pay as You Drive' Could Nudge People Into Reducing Emissions
A new kind of automobile insurance has just become legal in California. "Pay as You Drive" coverage is more closely tied to the number of miles a driver travels than older plans. Environmentalists hope it will give people a positive incentive to leave their cars at home.

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | THU, JULY 7, 2011

Los Angeles Congestion Pricing
If you're often alone in your car, stuck in a snarl of freeway gridlock, you're just the kind of person that a new pilot program in Los Angeles is trying to reach.

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | FRI, JULY 1, 2011

New Rail Lines Promise a More Accessible L.A., But at a Cost
The city of Los Angeles is working on several ambitious light rail projects that could make it the public transit envy of the West Coast. But rail's rise in Los Angeles comes at the expense of another system many people rely on.

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | FRI, MAY 13, 2011

Despite Transit Options, Bay Area Commuters Stick with Cars
Despite their eco-conscious reputation, nine out of 10 Bay Area residents commute by car. A new report from the Brookings Institution says public transit is actually pretty good, yet even with huge investments in transit, ridership numbers haven't changed much over the years.

KQED NEWS | WED, MAY 11, 2011

Bay Area Prepares for Bike to Work Day
Tonight's a good time to dig out your bike helmet, make sure your brakes work and check the batteries on your front and rear lights -- all in preparation for bike to work day on Thursday. Over the past few years, Bay Area cities have striped hundreds of miles of new bike lanes, and there will be dozens of energizer stations around the Bay Area to reward those who choose bikes over cars, or who walk or take public transportion. Host Cy Musiker talks with Renee Rivera, director of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, which covers all of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

The CALIFORNIA REPORT | TUE, APR 19, 2011

Saving Gas: Not Just What You Drive, But How You Drive
You don't have to buy a hybrid or an electric car to save at the pump -- changing driving habits such as jackrabbit starts can have an impact too. If people could see how much fuel they're burning, would they drive differently? That's a question a team of California researchers is asking.

KQED NEWS | TUE, APR 19, 2011

Caltrain Arrives at Working Plan to Maintain Service
Caltrain officials say they now have a working plan to fund transit service at its current level, by moving funds around to cover a deficit. The agency plans to keep looking for another source to cover its $3.5 million deficit.

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | THU, FEB 17, 2011

To Cut Emissions, Raise Gas Prices?
Californians are willing to do a lot to soften their impact on the planet. But are we willing to drive less? The Public Policy Institute of California, an established nonprofit research outfit, argues California needs to inflict some intentional pain at the pump in order to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions in a serious way.

KQED NEWS | FRI, FEB 4, 2011

Caltrain Cuts
Board members at Caltrain are moving closer to declaring a fiscal emergency, and cutting service to bare-minimum levels. The transit line could face a $30 million shortfall this year. Some officials say Caltrain needs a more reliable, dedicated source of revenue.

KQED NEWS | THU, FEB 3, 2011

Caltrain Wrestles With Deficit
Caltrain officials held a hearing today to consider action to address a $30 million budget deficit. The line's managers are considering shutting down weekend service and cutting weekday service in half to deal with the shortfall.

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | MON, JAN 10, 2011

Hidden Treasure: An Eco-City in San Francisco Bay?
A man-made patch of land in the San Francisco Bay called Treasure Island has sat mostly empty for years. Developers promise to transform the former Navy base into a model eco-friendly community. But the massive scale of the project raises big questions about this "smart growth" proposal.

KQED NEWS | THU, OCT 28, 2010

Berkeley's Measure R Offers City "Green Vision"
Cities always look for new ways to revitalize their downtowns in tough economic times. These days, they're also looking to cut their carbon footprints. A new ballot measure in Berkeley outlines a "green vision" for the city to address both needs, but opponents say it misses the mark.

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | FRI, OCT 08, 2010

Los Angeles Tries A Day Without Cars, On Some Streets
L.A.'s love affair with the automobile is well established. The city does have about a million more cars than people, and it seems almost no one walks anywhere. So you can understand why Angelenos were surprised to see signs reading "Road Closed Sunday" all over the city this week.

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | FRI, SEP 24, 2010

Regional Emissions Targets Issued
The state's air quality regulators are charging ahead with measures designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars.

THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | THU, JUN 24, 2010

Smarter Regional Planning Necessary to Reduce Car Use
The California Air Resources Board is expected to release goals for the state's regional planning agencies aimed at getting more of us out of our cars and onto public transit.