The Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) this month approved the Final 2026 Joint Advocacy Program, outlining the agencies’ state and federal legislative priorities for the calendar year.
Top priorities for legislation in both Washington and Sacramento will be guided in large part by Plan Bay Area 2050+, the north star for the agencies’ work in transportation and housing. Advocacy priorities will include securing funding and policy alignment that support the plan’s strategies and goals.
SB 375 Modernization
MTC/ABAG will coordinate with the “Big 4” metropolitan planning organization partners across the state to sponsor legislation to modernize SB 375, California’s regional transportation and land use planning framework – the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS). An update to SB 375 could better support progress toward the full range of state and regional environmental, housing, and transportation-related goals, including, but not limited to, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This effort includes advocacy for a third iteration of Regional Early Action Planning Grants (i.e. “REAP 3.0” to support SCS implementation.
Transportation Advocacy
Because of expected fiscal constraints this year, advocacy work will focus on sustaining existing resources for transportation. MTC also will seek new money to help deliver policies that improve the network overall, to support a reliable, safe, easy-to-navigate and integrated transportation system. Pathways include:
- Supporting a successful state loan for Bay Area transit operations.
- Ensuring the $5.1 billion multi-year SB 125 transit package remains intact.
- Advocating that the legislature fulfill the statutory dollar amounts for transit and housing programs prescribed in the Cap-and-Invest expenditure plan.
- Reauthorization of the federal surface transportation program (which is set to expire on October 1, 2026).
- Pursing funding from SB 840’s proposed $125 million Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund “transit pass” set-aside to expand Clipper® BayPass access for Bay Area community college students.
Housing Advocacy
MTC/ABAG will advocate for housing funding and housing-supportive policies, including supporting the state housing bond; seeking state dollars for the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA); and working to position BAHFA and a future regional housing measure for success.
Other state and federal focus areas remain largely consistent with the 2025 advocacy program.
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