Chairperson: Michael Covarrubias, President, TMG Partners
Staff Lead: Michael Cunningham, Andrew Michael and Scott Zengel

Background.  The Bay Area Council has long recognized the close and intertwined relationship between transportation and land use policy.  In order to align its policy work with the siloed organization of regional agencies and the California Legislature, however, the Council has historically maintained separate committees on transportation and land use.  In recent years, public agencies have reorganized to better reflect the link between transportation and land use:    Bay Area regional agencies created the Joint Planning Committee, and the California Senate established a merged Transportation and Land Use Committee.  In enacting SB 375 in 2008, the state has made explicit that regions must plan transportation and land use in a coordinated manner in order to achieve California’s climate protection goals.  Given these significant changes, Bay Area Council acted in 2009 to merge its transportation and land use committee into a single body that can effectively interact with public agencies as SB 375 is implemented in the Bay Area.

Mission.  The Transportation & Land Use Committee prioritizes and focuses on sustainable, transportation oriented, strategic smart growth to ensure future regional competitiveness of the Bay Area.   The Committee advances and influences the development, approval, and execution of a coherent set of local and regional land use and transportation plans, state and federal legislation, and public and private projects that ensure a livable, sustainable, and prosperous future for Bay Area residents and employers.

Organization.  The full Transportation & Land Use Committee is open to and welcoming of all Bay Area Council members wishing to engage in the Council’s efforts to shape regional growth and development.  The Committee offers its members valuable and interesting information, access to leading public officials, and opportunities to meet and interact with fellow Council members.  The Committee holds regular quarterly meetings that feature a prominent guest speaker along with updates on current Bay Area Council initiatives.