Planning Capacity and Delegated Authority for Decarbonizing Metropolitan Regional Transportation: A Comparison of California and Quebec

Background: In this paper, we report on a comparative investigation into the decarbonization of transportation systems in the metropolitan regions of Montreal and Los Angeles. While both regions have made efforts to reduce transport-related emissions, including through transit-oriented development, California adopted the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act, known as SB375, which explicitly targets greenhouse gas emission reductions from metro region transportation. However, questions remain about the effectiveness of SB375 and its transferability to other jurisdictions. Methods: Our study is based on a review of available policy documents and interviews undertaken over 2020–2021 with 23 experts and practitioners knowledgeable about transportation policy in the LA and Montreal metro regions. Results were interpreted using an analytical framework distinguishing between planning capacity (including administrative capacity and transport system modelling capacity) and governance authority over transportation system financing and land use. Results: Investigation of the LA metropolitan region suggests that regional planning organizations in California have considerable planning capacity but insufficient authority over transport system financing and land use to ensure that plans are implemented. Instead, financing is largely supported through special tax authority accorded to LA County while land use authority is vested in local governments. While regional actors in Quebec possess lower modelling and administrative capacity, the provincial government retains considerable power over transportation infrastructure and land use to drive densification. However, a lack of capacity to estimate current and planned transport-related emissions in the metro Montreal region frustrates firmer conclusions about policy effectiveness. Conclusion: Efforts to decarbonize metro region transportation are strongly affected by the broader set of institutions in which regions are situated. Both planning capacity and governance authority need to be appropriately allocated to rein in transportation emissions at the metro region level.