Federal regulations require California’s four metropolitan planning organizations–the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the San Diego Association of Governments and the Southern California Association of Governments–to update their regional transportation plans at least every four years.

The plans have a 25 year horizon, and direct local, state and federal spending on transportation and transit. In recent years, the regional organizations have integrated smart growth and environmental protection into their plans.

Sacramento Area Council of Governments
The [1] Sacramento council completed its 25 year plan, [2] MTP 2035, in March 2008, after two years of public hearings and citizen input. The council adopted six principles to guide the region’s $42 billion in transportation investments:

1. Smart land use,
2. Environmental quality and sustainability,
3. Financial stewardship,
4. Economic vitality,
5. Access and mobility, and
6. Equity and choice.

SF Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission
The [3] commission began its transportation update in 2007, with the adoption of its vision of a plan that would benefit the regional economy, protect the environment, and ensure transportation equity to all residents. The congestion management agencies of the nine Bay Area counties submitted their proposed plans for transportation investments in March 2008, which was followed by two months of public hearings throughout the region. The commission will judge transportation projects proposed by the nine Bay Area counties based on five categories:

1. Maintaining the region’s roads, highways and transit systems;
2. Relieving congestion;
3. Encouraging focused–or smart–growth;
4. Providing access to mobility to all area residents; and
5. Reducing emissions and greenhouse gases.

The commission will release its draft plan in October 2008, and adopt its final plan, [4] Transportation 2035: Change in Motion, in February 2009.

Southern California
The [5] Southern California Association of Governments produces the regional transportation plan for the Los Angeles area, and the [6] San Diego Association of Governments produces the plan for the border region.