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.

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.

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.

The 5310 program provides formula funding to assist private non-profit groups and transit operators in meeting the transportation needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities when the transportation service provided is unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate to meeting these needs. The funds are apportioned based on each State’s share of population for these groups of people and awarded to projects through a statewide competitive selection process. Funds may be used for capital or operating expenses. The Coordinated Plan, as required by the 2015 FAST Act, must include the following elements:

• An assessment of available services and current transportation providers (public, private, and non-profit);
• An assessment of transportation needs for seniors and persons with disabilities. This assessment can be based on the experiences and perceptions of the planning partners or on more sophisticated data collection efforts, and gaps in service;
• Strategies, activities, and/or projects to address the identified gaps between current services and needs, as well as opportunities to achieve efficiencies in service delivery; and
• Priorities for implementation based on resources (from multiple program sources), time, and feasibility for implementing specific strategies and/or activities

On September 14, 2022, the AMBAG Board of Directors released the Draft Coordinated Plan for a 30-day public comment period from September 14, 2022 to October 17, 2022. Comments on the Draft Plan should be sent to Miranda Taylor, AMBAG, 24580 Silver Cloud Court, Monterey, CA 93940 or via email at mtaylor@ambag.org. The Final Coordinated Plan is scheduled for adoption by the AMBAG Board of Directors at its November 9, 2022 meeting.

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.

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.