The Metropolitan Transportation Plan approved in 2002 will put in motion funding for numerous projects that will shape the region.

The MTP was unanimously approved by SACOG last summer after three years of research and intensive collaboration with representatives of stakeholder groups representing the public, business, labor, environmental organizations, ethnic groups, land development organizations, senior advocacy groups and others.

While addressing the essential need of road maintenance and expansion, the Plan invests more resources than in the past for alternatives to automobiles including bicycles, walking, light rail expansion and more trips on the Capitol Corridor commuter trains. A highlight of the Plan is the $500 million community design program to promote transit and pedestrian-oriented development.

Over $22 billion in investments will be guided by the MTP into local and regional transportation improvements through 2025 to respond to the region’s rapid growth and changing demographics.

One-fourth of the available funds will be earmarked toward maintaining streets, roads and highways; another quarter will fund transit operations. The remaining half will be used to fund a variety of programs and improvements, including the following:

• $2.5 billion extending light rail in five directions, a 150 percent increase in urban Sacramento bus service and enhancements to bus operations in other counties.
  
  
• $2.5 billion for state highway improvements, to better connect northern counties with the rest of the region and to add carpool lanes on urban freeways.
  
  
• $4.5 billion to improve traffic flow and safety on local streets.
  
  
• $1.5 billion for other improvements including bicycle and pedestrian lanes, carpool programs, technology improvements, clean air programs and open space preservation.

“Transportation and land-use planning are intricately linked,” explained SACOG Executive Director Martin Tuttle. The SACOG board has already approved allocating $81 million in MTP funds for near-term projects to relieve traffic congestion, including light rail line extensions.