Plan Directory
The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the tri-county Monterey Bay Region. It is the lead agency responsible for developing and administering the transportation plans and programs that receive federal funds in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties. As the MPO, AMBAG act as a forum for cooperative decision making in the development of transportation plans, programs and recommendations. AMBAG also provides opportunities for citizens to participate in the discussion of specific transportation issues and projects, and encourages the public to get involved throughout the Metropolitan Transportation Planning process.
AMBAG works with Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (San Benito County Council of Governments, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and the Transportation Agency for Monterey County), Transit Providers (Monterey Salinas Transit and Santa Cruz METRO Transit District), the Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD), state and federal governments, and organizations having interest in or responsibility for transportation planning and programming. AMBAG also coordinates transportation planning and programming activities with the three counties and eighteen local jurisdictions within the tri-county Monterey Bay Region.
Central Coast Highway 1 Climate Resiliency Study
The Central Coast Highway 1 Climate Resiliency Study is a collaborative project on the Highway 1 corridor near Elkhorn Slough presents significant challenges to the future of…
Central Coast Intelligent Transportation System
ITS technologies are generally considered to be the incorporation of advanced technology into all parts of the transportation system to improve the movement of people, goods, services and…
Electric Vehicle Planning
AMBAG holds a seat on the Steering Committee for the Monterey Bay Electric Vehicle Alliance (MBEVA). MBEVA is a grass-roots, public-private partnership comprised of diverse stakeholders in the tri…
AMBAG has prepared a suitability study that identifies the best places for electric vehicle charging stations throughout the tri-county area based on level of activity. The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure for the Monterey Bay Area study, funded by a Monterey Bay Area Unified Air Pollution Control District AB 2766 grant, has been incorporated into other EV plans being developed in the region and is used to help site locations for new EV charging stations.
Electric Vehicle Planning
2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan & the Sustainable Communities Strategy
AMBAG is the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) for the Monterey Bay Area. As the MPO, AMBAG is required to produce certain documents that maintain the region's eligibility for federal…
AMBAG developed a technical update to the 2035 MTP/SCS which was adopted in June 2014. The 2040 MTP/SCS was adopted in June 2018. Federal and state law requires that AMBAG prepare a long-range transportation plan every four years.
2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan & the Sustainable Communities Strategy
Monterey Bay Area Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan
AMBAG is required to develop a Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan (Coordinated Plan) for the tri-county region. Under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (…
AMBAG is required to develop a Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan (Coordinated Plan) for the tri-county region. Under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) legislation, this plan must be completed and used in developing grant applications for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities (Section 5310) grant program. The plan identifies local transit needs for the elderly, disabled, and low-income, and facilitates applications for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 grant program.
Monterey Bay Area Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan
Monterey Bay Area Sensitive Resources Mapping Project Final Report
This planning effort identifies sensitive resources in the Monterey Bay Area region to give transportation project managers a better understanding of the potential mitigation projects may require…
Public Participation Plan
AMBAG incorporates public participation into all of its planning processes. The Public Participation Plan provides guidance in the structuring of regional transportation planning processes to…
AMBAG incorporates public participation into all of its planning processes. The Public Participation Plan provides guidance in the structuring of regional transportation planning processes to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, interagency consultation and public participation are an integral and continuing part of the regional transportation decision making process. The participation policies and procedures described in the plan are structured to comply with all applicable federal and state legislation, rules, and express the genuine regional value and interest for all residents to participate in the shaping and implementation of regional policies and decisions regarding the transportation system.
Public Participation Plan
Regional Clearinghouse
The Clearinghouse newsletter allows for the notification, review and evaluation of federal, state and local development and planning activities that have a potentially significant impact on the…
Regional Freight Planning
Over the next several decades, the Central Coast region can expect to see significant increases in freight movement due to both population increases and a continued expansion of the region’s…
Over the next several decades, the Central Coast region can expect to see significant increases in freight movement due to both population increases and a continued expansion of the region’s agricultural production. As a result of this demand for freight by both the local and national population increases, a focus on enhancing the efficiency and safety of the region’s goods movement system is critical to supporting the economic health of the region and the quality of life for its residents. Given the importance freight and goods movement has in this region AMBAG has conducted planning efforts focused on the enhancement of freight mobility.
Regional Freight Planning
Regional Growth Forecast
The regional growth forecast projects the region's population, housing and employment. The growth forecast is used to support regional planning efforts such as the…
Regional Housing Planning
AMBAG prepares the Regional Housing Need Assessment (RHNA) plan for Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. The RHNA plan establishes the total number of housing units that each city and county must…
AMBAG prepares the Regional Housing Need Assessment (RHNA) plan for Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. The RHNA plan establishes the total number of housing units that each city and county must plan for within an eight-year planning period. The amount of housing a region must plan for is largely determined by the California Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD) housing need assessment.
Regional Housing Planning
Title VI Plan
The federally required Title VI Plan is a comprehensive document that guides AMBAG in the Title VI process. AMBAG receives federal funding through Caltrans and therefore is…
Planning Directors Forum
The Planning Directors Forum (PDF) consists of planning directors and staff from the 18 cities, three counties, three regional transportation planning agencies, transit agencies, universities and…
Air Quality Planning
As the designated metropolitan planning organization for the region, AMBAG is responsible for ensuring that transportation projects and plans do not impede the region’s clean air goals. AMBAG is…
2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan & the Sustainable Communities Strategy
AMBAG is the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) for the Monterey Bay Area. As the MPO, AMBAG is required to produce certain documents that maintain the region's eligibility for federal…
Sustainable Communities Strategy Implementation Project
Sustainable Communities Strategy Implementation Toolkits
Through a series of collaborative meetings in 2016, the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) staff, consultants,…
Central Coast Housing Working Group
Through the adopted FY 2019-20 California Budget (AB 74) and associated housing trailer bill (AB 101), HCD established the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Grant program. The Central Coast…
Regional Housing Needs Assessment Element Cycles
Regional Housing Needs Assessment 6th Housing Element Cycle
AMBAG will be overseeing the 6th…
Local Housing Planning Support Grants Program
The adopted FY 2019-20 California Budget (AB 74) and the associated housing trailer bill (AB 101) include a new Local Government Planning Support Grants Program. The program is…
Housing Senate Bills
Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) Housing Planning Grants
In 2017, the Building Homes and Jobs Act (SB 2)…