The Transportation Agency prepares the Regional Transportation Plan every four years, which provides a basis for actions to allocate state and federal funding to transportation projects. The Transportation Agency prepares its plan in coordination with AMBAG, which prepares a Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the three-county Monterey Bay Area in its role as the federal Metropolitan Planning Organization for this region. Transportation investments in the Monterey Bay region that receive state and federal funds or require federal approvals must be consistent with the Plan and included in AMBAG’s Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. The Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program is a four-year program and represents the near-term commitments of the Plan.
Developing a Sustainable Communities Strategy is a requirement of a Metropolitan Transportation Plan from Senate Bill 375. The Sustainable Communities Strategy provides linkage between greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles through integrated transportation, land use and environmental planning. As part of the planning process, AMBAG works closely with the cities and counties in the tri-county region to develop a new population, employment and housing growth forecast and land use patterns and strategies based on reasonably available revenues. The Strategy also integrates the transportation network of projects included in each county's Regional Transportation Plan. These documents are prepared in in close coordination with the region’s transit operators, local jurisdictions, Caltrans, the Monterey Bay Air Resources Board, state and federal resource agencies, local agency formation commissions and other special purpose public agencies.
These regional plans outline the tri-county priorities for meeting future transportation and mobility needs, consistent with the adopted policy goals and objectives, as well as within the constraints of transportation revenues forecast over the 20-year planning horizon of the document. AMBAG's current 2045 Plan is built on a set of integrated policies, strategies and investments to maintain and improve the transportation system to meet the diverse needs of the region through 2045, consistent with those developed within Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito County's regional transportation plans. The new Plan's forecast year will be 2050.
AMBAG staff has developed a detailed work program and schedule for the 2050 MTP/SCS (attached) that incorporates a variety of planning efforts in accordance with state and federal guidelines. The 2050 MTP/SCS is scheduled for adoption by the AMBAG Board of Directors, and the 2026 Monterey County Regional Transportation Plan is scheduled for adoption by the TAMC Board in June 2026. The 2050 MTP/SCS draft work program and schedule included in the web attachment.
A number of key inputs and components that will shape the development of a 2050 MTP/SCS are highlighted below.
2026 Regional Growth Forecast
Work will begin shortly to prepare a new Regional Growth Forecast which will be used in the preparation of the 2050 MTP/SCS. The expected completion of the draft 2026 Regional Growth Forecast is fall 2024.
Policy Area/Technical Updates
A number of relevant areas have continued to grow in importance because of the growing connections between land use and transportation in our region and throughout the state and the nation. Policy discussions and strategies will be evaluated as part of the development of the 2050 MTP/SCS as well as updating the necessary technical data.
- Land Use and Housing
- Climate Change, Adaptation and Resiliency
- Equity and Environmental Justice
- Freight and Economic Development
- Performance Planning and Management
Other Key 2050 MTP/SCS Tasks
Key tasks include incorporating the results of related efforts currently underway throughout the region (e.g., transportation studies, corridor studies and subregional studies) into the development of the 2050 MTP/SCS. Other tasks include updating major sections of the plan including plan performance measures, equity and environmental justice analysis, revenue projections, updating the project list including cost estimates for projects and services, and phasing.
2050 MTP/SCS Public Involvement Plan
AMBAG regularly involves the public in regional planning efforts. A public involvement plan (PIP) will be prepared to help develop the 2050 MTP/SCS based on the updated AMBAG 2023 Public Participation Plan. Additionally, there will be a series of public workshops, visualizations, and other means for involving the public and receiving input on the work products and draft 2050 MTP/SCS. The Board of Directors will be asked to adopt the PIP later in 2023 as part of the 2023 Public Participation Plan.
2050 MTP/SCS Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
A programmatic EIR would collectively cover the topics of the entire MTP/SCS. It is expected that the Notice of Preparation for the EIR would be released in 2024. New developments from recent CEQA cases may increase the analysis required in the EIR.
2050 MTP/SCS Proposed Roles and Responsibilities
A number of committees and working groups will provide oversight and input into the development of the 2050 MTP/SCS. The region’s public works directors and planning directors, who are represented in the county level Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) and the Planning Directors Forum (PDF), respectively.
Next Steps
AMBAG will be presenting the 2050 MTP/SCS draft work program to the Planning Directors Forum and TACs and in February and March 2023. The AMBAG Board of Directors will be asked to approve the 2050 MTP/SCS work program at its April 12, 2023 meeting.