SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
Regional Transportation Plan
Fact Sheet
Spring 2005
What is the Regional
Transportation Plan (RTP)?
Every few years, regional transportation planning agencies -- such as the Santa Cruz
County Regional Transportation Commission -- undertake long range planning efforts as a way to
set the course for the community's transportation needs. A Regional Transportation Plan, or
RTP, is developed according to federal and state law. Contained in the RTP are goals and
policies, short and long-range transportation projects, and a financial plan for funding the
projects over the next 25 years. Once the list of projects is developed, the RTP undergoes
program-level environmental review. In Santa Cruz County, the last RTP update was in 2005.
For the 2005 RTP the Commission worked in coordination with the Association of Monterey
Bay Area Governments, the federally designated planning agency for our region, to update the
plan.
How is a long range transportation plan
developed?
The first step is to craft over arching goals and policies. These set the direction for
the development of system-wide evaluation measures. Next, an estimate of all the potential
funding available for our county from local, state and federal sources is developed. Using
this as criteria, short and long range project lists are developed by the county, cities, and
other local agencies. The project lists are approved by the local agencies that implement the project.
Based on the projects and the funding, the SCCRTC determines which projects are the highest
priorities and should be funded first, and develops a second-priority list of additional
projects that could be funded should more funding become available. The program of projects
is then reviewed to identify potential environmental impacts. At each stage of RTP
development, the SCCRTC solicits public input, including the formation of goals and policies,
potential environmental concerns and the development of the project lists.
Goals of the 2005 Regional Transportation
Plan
The Goals and Policies from the 2001 RTP were affirmed by the
Regional Transportation Commission for the 2005 update. The Goals are:
Preserve and maintain the existing transportation system, emphasizing safety and efficiency
Increase mobility by providing an improved and integrated multimodal transportation system
Coordinate land-use and transportation decisions to ensure that the region=s social, cultural, and economic vitality is sustained for current and future generations
Ensure that the transportation system complements and enhances the natural environment of the Monterey Bay region
Make the most efficient use of limited transportation financial resources
Solicit broad public input on all aspects of regional and local transportation plans, projects and funding
How Can You Get Involved?
Subscribe to E-News to receive notices about RTP updates
Let us know what you think!
Attend public meetings on the plan. All public meetings are noticed in the
newspaper and on our website. If you would like to receive e-mail notification
let us know what e-mail address to send the info to.
Mail your comments to the RTC 1523 Pacific Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95060
If you have questions, comments or would like additional information
on any of the Commission's activities, programs or projects, please contact staff.
If you have comments or suggestions about the website, please contact the websmith.
