This section is designed to provide local officials with an
overview of metropolitan planning organizations with an emphasis
on regional transportation planning as revised by SB 375
(including the development of sustainable communities
strategies). Included are updates on regional planning
activities, public participation efforts and planning documents
for each metropolitan planning organizations (MPO). Also
included in this section are links to other related resources on
these areas.
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).
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) created Transportation 2035 Plan that was adopted by the region in April 2009. The plan aims to stimulate the use of public transportation use in an around the Bay Area while at the same time increasing the safety and utility of bicycling and walking. All of these increased efforts are aimed at reducing miles traveled and car and truck emissions while at the same time increasing the efficiency of the roadway and transit systems throughout the Bay Area.
This Monterey Bay Area Public Transportation Plan has been prepared collaboratively with the Council of San Benito County Governments (SBCOG), Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST), Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (SCMTD), and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and includes input from the cities, counties and other parties interested in planning programs and transportation policies in the Monterey Bay area.
BCAG is an association of all the local governments within Butte
County and include the cities of Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Oroville,
the Town of Paradise and the County of Butte. BCAG is
responsible for development of federal and state transportation
plans and programs that secure transportation funding for the
region’s highways, transit, streets and roads, pedestrian and
other transportation system improvements. BCAG
is in the final stages of developing its Regional
Transportation Plan (RTP) and is current
Fresno COG’s Regional Transportation Plan 2035 outlines a 25-year course for transforming the Fresno County Region’s transportation system. The overall goal is to plan sustainably, with purpose and direction, helping Fresno move forward to accommodate the projected area growth that will result in more people, vehicles, commercial and residential construction.
The 2011 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) is a 24-year blueprint that establishes a regional transportation goals, policies and actions that are intended to guide development in Kern County.
The goal of the Kings County
Regional Transportation Plan is to help guide state and local
officials as they upgrade the overall transportation system in
Kings County and will be used as a data source and information
document for the general public.
In 2008, SACOG adopted the Metropolitan Transportation Plan for 2035 which is 28-year plan for transportation improvements in the six-county region. The MTP is based on projections for growth in population, housing and jobs.
Adopted in April 2011, the 2050
Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Sustainable
Communities Strategy (SCS) provide a regional transportation
vision until 2050. The goal of the strategy is to guide the
San Diego region toward meeting the state’s regional targets for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The goal of
Tahoe’s Regional Transportation Plan: Mobility 2035 is to
enhance the quality of life in the Tahoe Region. The
overall goal is to promote sustainability while at the same time
improving mobility for the region, creating walkable communities
that offer residents transportation alternatives. The plan
incorporates an integrated land use and transportation strategy
that will allow the Region to achieve targets for reducing
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035.
SB 375 is a California State law that went into effect January 1,
2009 that tasks California’s 18 Metropolitan Planning
Organizations with incorporating a Sustainable Communities
Strategy (SCS) outlining the forecasted growth and basis for
transportation investments in the region.
The goal of the SCS is to sufficiently reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from transportation in the region to meet a regional
target set by the California Air Resources Board
(CARB).
A Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) outlines transportation investments for a region. It is drafted by a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) or Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) every four years (five years in regions that have attained federal air quality standards) and includes a 20-year outlook for likely growth in the region. The RTP is the basis for state funding of transportation projects.
Regional agencies are required by state and federal regulations
to adopt and implement a public participation plan specifically
for the development of the RTP.
This is a collaborative planning process that engages local
residents in formulating a long-term vision for their
region. This vision is developed from residents’ and
incorporates their various priorities for the region.
Through a public process a preferred growth scenario is selected
from a series of alternative sustainable growth scenarios.
This preferred scenario then guides regional and local land use
and transportation decisions for the future that ultimately fits
the residents’ needs and desires for the area.
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).
This Monterey Bay Area Public Transportation Plan has been prepared collaboratively with the Council of San Benito County Governments (SBCOG), Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST), Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (SCMTD), and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and includes input from the cities, counties and other parties interested in planning programs and transportation policies in the Monterey Bay area.
