Major Changes May Come to Bay Area Planning As MTC and ABAG Move Toward Merger

Major Changes May Come to Bay Area Planning As MTC and ABAG Move Toward Merger

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Thu, Feb 18, 2016 -- 9:00 AM

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James Tensuan/KQED

Rush hour traffic on Woodside Rd. in Redwood City, California.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) are responsible for housing and transportation planning for the Bay Area, including the controversial "Plan Bay Area" mandate. Now there's talk of merging the two agencies, with a study underway on how that could be accomplished. But critics argue that the merger process lacks transparency, and that a consolidated agency will take decision-making out of the hands of local communities. We'll discuss the benefits and drawbacks of a potential merger.

Host: Michael Krasny

Guests:

• Dave Cortese, chair, Metropolitan Transportation Commission; supervisor, District Three, Santa Clara County; former president of ABAG
• Julie Pierce, president, Association of Bay Area Governments; council member for the city of Clayton
• Egon Terplan, regional planning director, SPUR
• Catharine Baker, assemblymember, 16th District (R) (Walnut Creek, Danville, Pleasanton), California State Assembly
• Zelda Bronstein, Bay Area activist and journalist; former chair of Berkeley Planning Commission; writes for 48hills.org

More info:

• Information about the S.F. Bay Area Regional Planning Hearing
• More Information on Plan Bay Area
• Merge Regional Agencies to Address Common Problems (SFChronicle.com)
• The Regional Government Merger: Is Anyone Asking Why? (48Hills.org)
• ABAG vs. MTC is a Battle You Should Care About (Contra Costa Times)