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Metropolitan Planning Organizations 375 Updates

Overview

Metropolitan Planning Organizations: SB 375 Updates

This section is designed to provide local officials with an overview of metropolitan planning organizations – regional agencies governed by local officials within their metropolitan region. These agencies have important responsibilities, including a new emphasis on regional planning for transportation and housing as revised by SB 375. Below is information on regional planning activities (including the development of sustainable communities strategies), public participation efforts and planning documents for each metropolitan planning organization.

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California’s 18 Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Federal law requires that any urbanized area with population of at least 50,000 be guided and maintained by a regional entity known as a metropolitan planning organization (MPO).  SB 375 details specific roles for California MPOs, expanding their role in regional planning.  Eighteen MPOs are designated in California, accounting for approximately 98% of the state’s population.

These MPOs are:

Metropolitan Planning Organization Profile
Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG)

Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG)

The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) is a voluntary association of 18 cities and 3 counties in California’s central coast region.  AMBAG is the designated metropolitan planning organization for Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Profile

Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG)

Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) is an voluntary association of all the local governments within Butte County, and is the designated metropolitan planning organization and regional transportation planning agency for the region.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Profile
Kern Council of Governments (KCOG)

Kern Council of Governments (KCOG)

Kern COG, is an association of city and county governments created to address regional transportation issues. Its member agencies include the County of Kern and the 11 incorporated cities within Kern County.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Profile
Madera County Transportation Commission (Madera CTC)

Madera County Transportation Commission (Madera CTC)

The Madera County Transportation Commission is the regional transportation planning agency and the designated metropolitan planning organization for Madera County.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Profile
Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG)

Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG)

Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) is an association of city and county governments, with members who meet to solve regional problems such as transportation, solid waste and air quality.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Profile
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)/ Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)/ Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) functions as both the regional transportation planning agency and the metropolitan planning organization for the region.  The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is the comprehensive regional planning agency and the council of governments for the nine counties and 101 cities and towns in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Metropolitan Planning Organization Profile
San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG)

San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG)

The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) is a joint-powers authority comprised of the County of San Joaquin and the cities of Stockton, Lodi, Manteca, Tracy, Ripon, Escalon, and Lathrop.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Profile
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)

The  Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is the largest of nearly 700 councils of government in the United States, functioning as the metropolitan planning organization for six counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura and Imperial.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Profile

Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG)

Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) is a council of city and county governments for the Stanislaus County region that was established in 1971 by a joint powers agreement to address regional transportation issues.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Profile
Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization (TMPO)/Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA)

Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization (TMPO)/Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA)

Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization (TMPO) serves as the federally-designated metropolitan planning organization for the Tahoe region. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) carries out planning requirements of the Bi-State Tahoe Regional Planning Compact and serves as the regional transportation planning agency for the California portion of the Lake Tahoe basin. 

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