1. GREASING THE WHEELS OF MOBILITY:
ENGAGEMENT IN REGIONAL/LOCAL
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

2. The importance of being involved:
it helps to get what you want.-

3. IT BEGINS WITH
City
County
State
Federal
Regional

4. FHWA

6. FEDERAL

7. Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)--Federally required
and federally funded transportation policy-making
organization, in urban areas of greater than 50,000
population, with representatives from local government and
transportation authorities.
Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA)—State of
CA created transportation planning agency with
representatives from local government and sometimes the
public. Frequently a Council of Governments (COG).
Local Transportation Commission (LTC)—County based
transportation planning agency with representatives from
local government and functions like a RTPA.

8. MPO is federally
required
transportation
planning agency in
federally designated
urbanized areas with a
population of 50,000
or more.
RTPAs are statutorily created and
frequently are countywide
agencies that consist of the
county and the cities in it.
LTC are within each county which is not within
the jurisdiction of a statutorily created
regional transportation planning agency or a
council of governments.

10. Metropolitan/Regional Transportation Plan, a
Transportation Improvement Program, a
Coordinated Public Transit-Human
Services Transportation Plan

11. AND THEN THERE’S THE MONEY.
Source of it:
Local transportation sales tax General sales tax
Gasoline tax Excise tax Development tax Truck
weight tax Property tax
Federal—tax on motor fuel, tires, truck and trailer
sales, heavy vehicle use, fines and penalties from
motor carrier safety regulations.
Grants from various agencies Federal Transit Administration
Federal Highway Administration
California Department of Transportation

13. STATE PLAN
The California Transportation Plan 2025 (CTP) offers a
blueprint for meeting the State’s future mobility needs. The
CTP is a long-range transportation policy plan that explores
the social, economic, and technological trends and
demographic changes anticipated over the next 20 years
and their potential influence on travel behavior. The CTP
vision is one of a fully integrated, multimodal, sustainable
transportation system that supports the three outcomes
(3Es) that define quality of life — prosperous economy,
quality environment, and social equity.

14. DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES
While California’s general population is expected to increase
nearly 29 percent by 2020, the senior age group is projected
to increase about 71 percent.
The over-85 age group is expected to increase 55 percent by
2020.
Licensed drivers 85 years and older increased substantially
from 1969 to 1995 — men from about 48 percent to 72
percent and women from 12 percent to 29 percent. However,
some Californians in this age group do not or cannot drive.
Decision-makers will need to consider the safety implications in
designing and providing transportation choices and services for
elderly, but active, Californians.
CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION PLAN —pg. 17

15. CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION PLAN —pg. 40

16. KEY CONCEPTS
ACCESSIBILITY is the ability of people to reach other people, goods, services, activities,
destinations, and information. Access can be achieved by expanding the capacity,
efficiency, and convenience of the transportation system and removing barriers to
persons with disabilities. It can also be achieved by alternate methods, such as
telecommuting, electronic business and government transactions, and through land use
changes that reduce the distances between residences, employment, services, and
points of entry to the transportation system. —pg 4
SOCIAL EQUITY A transportation system designed to provide social equity ensures that
low-income individuals, the young and elderly, persons with disabilities, and
disadvantaged individuals in rural and urban areas have access to safe and reliable
transportation.—pg 4
POLICY: Provide viable transportation choices
Strategies: Expand on-call, alternative door-to-door paratransit services, to
improve mobility for persons with disabilities and elder Californians. —pg 41

17. Implementing the CTP will require a sustained commitment to share decision-making,
effective system management, and the participation of federal, regional, local and
Native American Tribal Governments, community-based organizations, the private
sector, and residents. All of these voices must be heard and considered in order to
achieve an integrated, connected transportation system that provides mobility and
promotes economic vitality and community goals.—pg viii
The transportation system must provide equitable and effective mobility and
accessibility. It must be safe and secure, and support the State’s economic prosperity.
It must co-exist with and enhance our natural and human environments. The following
goals, while identified and discussed as separate issues, are interdependent. For
example, if the system is not well maintained, the level of mobility and safety will
decline.—pg 34
Mobility is not mode-specific. We need to select transportation investments that will
provide the greatest mobility and efficient use of the entire system. Providing
transportation choices will help balance the system and reduce congestion and
environmental impacts. Enhancing and expanding modal choices will also provide
options for those who drive and improve access for those who cannot or choose not
to drive.—pg 34
Maybe this slide not needed.

19. The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)*
is a long-range transportation plan that
provides a vision for transportation
investments throughout a region. Using
growth forecasts and economic trends
that project out over a 20-25 year period,
the RTP considers the role of
transportation in the broader context of
economic, environmental, and quality-of-
life goals for the future, identifying
regional transportation strategies to
address mobility needs.
Source: SCAG​
* Also called a Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)

20. The purpose of RTPs is
to encourage and
promote the safe and
efficient management,
operation and
development of a
regional intermodal
transportation system
that, when linked with
appropriate land use
planning, will serve the
mobility needs of goods
and people.

21. WHO DOES REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANS
LTC: Local
Transportation
Commission
MPO--Metropolitan
Planning Organization
RTPA--Regional
Transportation Planning
Agency
MPOs are usually also RTPAs but
RTPAs are not always MPOs.
Santa Cruz County Regional
Transportation Commission

22. WHAT’S IN A RTP/MTP?
Policy Element--clearly conveys the
region’s transportation policies.
Action Element—clearly conveys the
region’s transportation projects.
Financial Element--fundamental to the
development and implementation of the
RTP.

23. WHAT’S IN A RTP/MTP?
Policy Element--clearly conveys the region’s transportation policies.
 Describes the transportation issues in the region;
 Identifies and quantifies regional needs expressed within both short
and long-range planning horizons.
 Maintains internal consistency with the Financial Element and fund
estimates.
Action Element—clearly conveys the region’s transportation projects.
 Consists of short and long-term activities that address regional
transportation issues and needs. All transportation modes (highways,
local streets and roads, mass transportation, rail, maritime, bicycle,
pedestrian and aviation facilities and services) are addressed.
 Identifies existing needs, assumptions, and forecasting and potential
alternative actions.
 Identifies investment strategies, alternatives and project priorities
beyond what is already programmed.

24. WHAT’S IN A RTP/MTP?--CONTINUED
Financial Element--fundamental to the development and implementation of the
RTP.
 Identifies the current and anticipated revenue sources and financing
techniques available to fund the planned transportation investments described
in the Action Element.
 Defines realistic financing constraints and opportunities.
 Uses financing information to develop alternatives that are used by State and
local decision-makers to determine which transportation projects should be
planned for funding.
 Summary of costs to operate and maintain the current transportation system;
Six major components that constitute the Financial Element
1. Summary of costs to operate and maintain the current transportation system;
2. Estimate of costs and revenues to implement the projects identified in the Action Plan;
3. Inventory of existing and potential transportation funding sources;
4. List of candidate projects if funding becomes available;
5. Potential funding shortfalls; and,
6. Identification of alternative policy directions that affect the funding of projects.
Source: 2010 RTP Guidelines

25. WHAT’S IN A RTP/MTP?--CONTINUED

27. Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission

31. BUT THERE’S SOMETHING ELSE

32. California state law that became effective January 1, 2009. This law
requires California's Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop regional
reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and prompts the
creation of regional plans to reduce emissions from vehicle use
throughout the state. California's 18 Metropolitan Planning Organizations
(MPOs) have been tasked with creating "Sustainable Community
Strategies" (SCS). The MPOs are required to develop the SCS through
integrated land use and transportation planning and demonstrate an
ability to attain the proposed reduction targets by 2020 and 2035.

33. BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE………………..
TIP: all regionally significant transportation projects and federally funded capital
projects are part of the TIP. This means that many---but not all---transit, highway,
local roadway, bicycle and pedestrian investments are included in the TIP.
Only projects included in the Regional/Metropolitan Transportation Plan may be
incorporated into the TIP. The R/MTP is the long range policy and planning
document while the TIP is the short range implementing document that enables
those planned projects to begin work. Specifically, the TIP lists those projects from
the R/MTP that have committed or reasonably available funding and intend to
begin a phase of work during the 4 years of the TIP.
TIP logo courtesy of Southeast Michigan Council of Governments

36. THE COORDINATED PLAN

38. Increase outreach and education on alternatives to driving
and availability of mobility training programs. Increase
publicity on public transit services. Improve readability of
transit schedules, including producing large print versions.
Publicize the availability of ride-sharing and matching
programs.
Establish mobility training programs in all jurisdictions to
make transit and alternatives to driving more accessible and
user-friendly to seniors and persons with disabilities,
including those who may never have utilized it before.
Develop transit ambassador/buddy programs to provide
personal assistance to seniors and persons with disabilities
who are learning to use fixed-route transit.
SACOG Coordinated Plan recommendations

40. RTPA-----------------------CTSA-----------------------
Consolidated Transportation Services Agency--works to expand the
availability and use of specialized transportation services for
people with disabilities, senior citizens, and other transportation
disadvantaged individuals.

41. SOME EXAMPLES OF CTSA
Santa Cruz County
San Diego County
RT boundaries in
Sacramento County
Colusa County
Transit Agency

42. RTPA-----------------------CTSA-----------------------SSTAC
The Purpose of the Social
Services Transportation
Advisory Council (SSTAC) is
to solicit the input of transit-
dependent and transit
disadvantaged persons,
including the elderly,
disabled, low income
persons, and youths
regarding transit needs.

44. CITY AND COUNTY GENERAL PLAN
General Plan has
7 required [by
State law]
elements—land
use, open space,
conservation,
housing, safety,
noise, and
circulation.
Land Use Circulation
Open Space Noise
Conservation Safety
Housing

45. Infrastructure plan
addressing the
circulation of people,
vehicles, goods, and
systems: energy, water,
sewage, storm
drainage, and
communications.
And it must coordinate
with applicable state
and regional
transportation plans.
Likewise, the state
must coordinate its
plans with those of
local governments.
CIRCULATION ELEMENT

46. SOME TRANSPORTATION ITEMS
IN THE CIRCULATION ELEMENT
♦ Streets and highways
♦ Public transit routes, stops, and terminals (e.g., for buses, light rail
systems, rapid transit systems, commuter railroads, ferryboats, etc.
♦ Transit-oriented development
♦ Private bus routes and terminals
♦ Bicycle and pedestrian routes and facilities
♦ Truck routes
♦ Railroads and railroad depots
♦ Paratransit plan proposals (e.g., for jitneys, carpooling, van pooling,
taxi service, and dial-a-ride)
♦ Navigable waterways, harbors (deep-draft and small-boat), and
terminals
♦ Airports (commercial, general and military)
♦ Parking facilities
♦ Transportation system management

48. Butte County General Plan Circulation Element

49. Butte County General Plan

50. City of Santa Rosa General Plan

52. Citizen's Guide: Regional Transportation Planning
HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

53. HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

54. HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

55. HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

56.  Attend meetings of your county or local transportation committee or
advisory group. Meet the key staff who manage the local
transportation process. Contact your municipal-or-county planning
departments to find out about these meetings.
 Visit the DOT and MPO/RTPA websites to keep abreast of upcoming
meetings and planning studies.
 Be included on the MPO/RTPA, state and county mailing lists.
 Attend a number of different MPO/RTPA committee meetings
including those on transportation, citizen involvement, work program
development and so forth. Ask questions at these meetings so you
become known to members and staff.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

57.  Attend MPO/RTPA Board meetings. You will have an opportunity
to see and hear the official representative from your area who
is a voting member of the MPO/RTPA board, as well as their
staff. you will also meet key members of the state staff who are
well-versed in the planning process. it is usually not a time to
initiate a long conversation, but a short introduction to these
officials and staff is usually possible and you should seize the
chance.
 Reach out to other interested parties who are active in your
community such as the heads of local and regional civic
groups, environmental groups, parent/teacher associations,
environmental groups, business associations, neighborhood
associations and the like.
 Write letters to your local elected official and, if possible, try to
arrange face-to-face discussions.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING