MTC Invites Bay Area Residents to Shape Strategy for Expanding Public Involvement

OAKLAND, Calif., July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- How can we get more people involved in shaping transportation policies and investment decisions? What will it take for you to participate in planning the region's future? The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has released its 2010 Draft Public Participation Plan and wants advice on these questions.

The plan summarizes MTC's practices for providing the Bay Area's diverse communities with ample opportunity to get involved in the transportation planning process. Key elements of the draft plan include frequent consultation with advisory panels; mail and e-mail notification of upcoming meetings, workshops and other forums; a robust website allowing the public to listen to live or archived meetings, and to comment on issues before the Commission; a team of agency staff dedicated to public outreach and assistance; a range of publications available free of charge; and translation services available upon request for participation by all residents.

Appendix A to the Draft 2010 Plan is the "Public Participation Plan for the Bay Area Sustainable Communities Strategy and Regional Transportation Plan." State legislation passed in 2008 calls upon metropolitan planning organizations like MTC in 18 regions in California to develop regional transportation plans that incorporate a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) — an integrated transportation, land-use and housing plan, with the ultimate goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions for cars and light-duty trucks.

In the Bay Area, the SCS and Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) will be a joint effort between the Bay Area's regional agencies: MTC, the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. An extensive outreach effort is anticipated as part of the process of developing the SCS. In addition to a partnership among local governments (cities, counties, congestion management agencies, and transit agencies), a number of public stakeholders will be consulted. The draft public participation plan for the SCS and RTP provides specifics on when, how and where interested parties may stay informed of and get involved in this critical planning effort.

Members of the public are encouraged to e-mail comments to [email protected], or submit comments via regular mail to the MTC Public Information Office at 101 Eighth St., Oakland, CA, 94607. All comments must be received by 4 p.m. on August 23, 2010.

To obtain a copy of the 2010 Draft Public Participation Plan, visit the MTC Web site at www.mtc.ca.gov/get_involved/participation_plan.htm, or call the MTC Public Information Office at 510.817.5757.

MTC is the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area's transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency.

SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission