Regional Agencies to Vote on Plan Bay Area Preferred Land Use Scenario and Transportation Investment Strategy

OAKLAND, Calif., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) will vote on the Plan Bay Area Preferred Land Use Scenario and Transportation Investment Strategy at a special joint meeting at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 17, 2012, at the Oakland Marriott City Center, Junior Ballroom, 1001 Broadway, Oakland, CA.

When completed, Plan Bay Area will be the region's 25-year guide to jobs, population and housing distribution, as well as transportation investments. California's Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375) requires that each of the state's 18 Metropolitan Planning Organizations – and in the Bay Area specifically MTC and ABAG – develop a long-range plan to reduce per-capita greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. The Bay Area is required to reduce emissions by 7 percent by 2020 and by 15 percent by 2035. SB 375 also requires the plan to house 100 percent of the region's projected population growth, without displacing current low-income residents.

"We are making great strides toward adopting a long-range plan that links local aspirations for community development with regional objectives, particularly a strong regional economy," said ABAG President Mark Luce.

The Preferred Land Use and Transportation Investment Strategy will comprise the Plan Bay Area project alternative to be evaluated as part of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In December 2012, the agencies expect to release the draft Plan Bay Area and EIR, which will be followed by public hearings and workshops throughout the region in January through March 2013. MTC and ABAG are due to adopt the final Plan Bay Area and certify the final EIR in April 2013.

MTC Chair Adrienne J. Tissier said, "We are especially pleased that when our transportation investment strategy and preferred land use scenario are combined together, we are able to fully achieve the greenhouse gas reduction and housing targets required by law."

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

SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission