Projects

What’s on the Horizon?

By Staff
Horizon logo

As we’ve shared in previous blog posts this spring, MTC and ABAG have launched Horizon, an ambitious regional initiative that will explore the challenges and opportunities likely to face the Bay Area between now and 2050.

The Horizon initiative will allow the public, planners and policymakers to wrestle with a range of challenging questions that traditionally have been outside the regional planning process, including how to respond to the emergence of driverless vehicles, rising sea levels, earthquakes, changing economic conditions and more. This important planning initiative will inform Plan Bay Area 2050, a separate but closely related effort that will kick off in mid-2019.

Questions being considered under Horizon include:

  • What might different levels of autonomous vehicle adoption mean for our current pipeline of traditional transportation investments? Should we change tactics?
  • How should the Bay Area respond if economic output, population and employment suddenly boom or bust?
  • What strategies should we consider to better prepare our neighborhoods, business centers and other built infrastructure for increasingly frequent natural disasters?

In late February 2018, MTC/ABAG staff conducted public outreach and received more than 10,000 unique comments from residents across the Bay Area, in response to the question: “What are the most pressing issues we should consider as we plan for life in 2050?” The priorities identified by residents led to the creation of the five Guiding Principles that will guide the Horizon initiative:

  • Affordable: All Bay Area residents and workers have sufficient housing options they can afford—households are economically secure.
  • Connected: An expanded, well-functioning transportation system connects the Bay Area—fast, frequent and efficient intercity trips are complemented by a suite of local transportation options, connecting communities and creating a cohesive region.
  • Diverse: Bay Area residents support an inclusive region where people from all backgrounds, abilities and ages can remain in place—with access to the region’s assets and resources.
  • Healthy: The region’s natural resources, open space, clean water and clean air are conserved—the region actively reduces its environmental footprint and protects residents from environmental impacts.
  • Vibrant: The Bay Area is an innovation leader, creating quality job opportunities for all and ample fiscal resources for communities.

Over the coming months, there will be several opportunities to participate in Horizon, which will extend through June 2019.

  • Submit your best and brightest ideas to reshape Bay Area transportation in June’s innovative request for Transformative Projects.
  • Come see us in person and attend a community event later this year.
  • Follow the conversation throughout @MTCBATA, @ABAGSFBayArea or https://www.facebook.com/MTCBATA/.

Also consider signing up for the Horizon mailing list to stay up-to-date on each stage of this planning effort and how you can get involved in the process.

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