A new study finds that building communities with access to transportation options, with housing closer to jobs, shopping, schools and parks - could save money, cut pollution, reduce our dependence on oil, and let us spend less time in cars and more time with our families.

The study shows how changes in land use and infrastructure decisions can help Californians do all the following:

• Save $6,400 annually on auto and utility costs by driving less and living in homes that use less water and energy.

• Reduce the number of miles driven by 3.7 trillion miles by 2050, the equivalent of taking ALL cars off the roads for 12 years.

• Save 140 billion gallons of gasoline to 2050 by reducing miles traveled by passenger cars.  That's the equivalent of two years of U.S. oil imports.

• Cities and counties can save $4.3 billion annually on infrastructure costs by building more compact neighborhoods.

• California can save enough water by 2050 to fill the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park more than 50 times, by building more compact communities and homes that require less water.

• California can save enough energy by 2050 to power EVERY home in the state for 8 years.

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