OAKLAND, Calif., April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bay Area residents will begin a public discussion about the region's future growth at a series of public workshops being held in all nine Bay Area counties beginning April 21 and continuing through May 19. Participants will use a fun, interactive web-based visual simulation tool to understand some of the challenges and trade-offs associated with the housing and transportation needs of our growing region. The discussion results and feedback will help inform development of Plan Bay Area, the region's long-range integrated land-use/transportation plan.

"Now is the time to speak up about your vision for a sustainable, prosperous future," said Adrienne Tissier, chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). "As our population is projected to grow from about 7 million to nearly 9 million people by 2040, we need a plan that meets the transportation and housing needs of current and future generations."

Plan Bay Area is led by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in partnership with the Bay Area's other two regional government agencies, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC).

Additionally, the agencies are partnering with Envision Bay Area, an initiative led by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and a group of nonprofits working to promote public participation on Plan Bay Area. An online tool – YouChoose Bay Area – helps residents try out different growth scenarios and learn about some of the consequences for their communities. Visit the online tool at www.youchoosebayarea.org.

Space at each workshop is limited, and early registration is strongly encouraged by visiting www.onebayarea.org/workshops, or by calling 510.817.5831:

• Santa Clara County, April 21, 5:30-8:30 pm at Microsoft Corporation in Mountain View
• San Francisco County, April 25, 5:30-8:30 pm at the Milton Marks Conference Center in San Francisco
• San Mateo County, April 27, 5:30-8:30 pm at the San Mateo Public Library in San Mateo
• Napa County, April 28, 5:30-8:30 pm at the Elks Lodge in Napa
• Solano County, May 4, 5:30-8:30 pm at the Solano County Events Center in Fairfield
• Contra Costa County, May 7, 9 am-12 pm at the Concord Senior Center in Concord
• Marin County, May 11, 5:30-8:30 pm at the Embassy Suites Hotel in San Rafael
• Sonoma County, May 18, 5:30-8:30 pm at the Glaser Center in Santa Rosa
• Alameda County, May 19, 5:30-8:30 pm at the David Brower Center in Berkeley

The workshops are the next step in the Plan Bay Area process, following release of an Initial Vision Scenario, which provides a starting point for conversations about where new development should occur and how new transportation investments can serve this growth in a way that promotes sustainable communities. (See www.onebayarea.org/plan_bay_area/land_use.htm.)

"Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, now and in the future," said ABAG Chair Mark Green. "That's why we're having this regional dialogue. We want to collaborate with elected officials, policymakers and residents in building a plan that is sensitive to Bay Area communities' environment, economy and social equity."

MTC is the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area's transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency. Founded in 1961, ABAG is the regional planning agency for the 101 cities and towns, and nine counties of the Bay Area.

SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission