Sustainable Community Strategies Survey and Scenarios
Fresno Council of Governments has developed five region wide visions for growth within Fresno County from now through 2035. Each vision (called a Sustainable Community Scenario or SCS) has a different land use and transportation focus. The goal of the scenarios is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but we measured the scenarios using 12 different measurements called “indicators”.
This effort is required by the State of California, and is updated every four years. We want to hear which of them you support, as a way for Fresno County’s transportation and land use to grow and thrive.
Click Here To Take The Survey!
View the Indicator Results to see how they measure up to one another.
Fast Lanes Forward
This scenario focuses on making it easier for people to travel around Fresno County by expanding roads and reducing traffic jams. It includes building wider roads and adding new ones so people can get to work, school, or shopping faster. Unlike other scenarios, it emphasizes building new roads over improving current ones or investing in public transit. It also provides a variety of housing options, with a good mix of homes in both busy city areas and quieter suburban neighborhoods.
Fix First, Grow Smart
This scenario focuses on keeping Fresno County’s roads in good shape, making driving safer and easier. It emphasizes fixing and improving existing streets so people can easily get to nearby places like shops, schools, and parks. Unlike Scenario A, which builds new roads, or Scenarios C, D, and E, which focus on public transit, this scenario prioritizes road maintenance and operation, and smart use of space. It reduces building in far-out areas compared to Scenario A and supports keeping neighborhoods compact, encouraging some redevelopment to existing areas to create a strong sense of community.
Balanced Growth, Better Transit
This scenario balances fixing roads and improving public transit to help people get around Fresno County. It maintains existing streets, adds some new ones, and makes buses more reliable, unlike Scenario A’s Road expansion-heavy focus or Scenario B’s maintenance and operation priority. New homes, shops, and offices are built in established areas, mixed together to create vibrant, walkable communities where everything is close by. It provides a balance between road maintenance and transit, as compared to the heavy transit plans in Scenarios D and E.
Urban Light Rail
This scenario centers on expanding public transit with a new light rail line in Fresno-Clovis urbanized area connecting key places like shopping areas, the high-speed rail station, and the airport. It prioritizes easy access to transit for all, safer roads, and smart land use, unlike Scenario A’s road expansion or Scenario B’s maintenance focus. Growth targets areas near transit stops close to apartments, shops, and offices, encouraging compact, walkable neighborhoods. Compared to Scenario E, this one focuses more on urban travel rather than regional travel.
Regional Rails, Connected Communities
This scenario emphasizes a regional commuter rail system to connect Fresno County’s smaller cities and towns. It is built on Scenario D’s urban rail but focuses on longer-distance travel across the region. Unlike Scenario A’s road building, Scenario B’s road maintenance, or Scenario C’s balanced approach, it prioritizes public transit to link the entire county. It encourages high-density growth near rail stations with apartments, shops, and offices, to create walkable communities that are well connected across the region.
