State Advocacy
MTC takes the Bay Area’s interests to Sacramento to advocate for state policies and funding. MTC advocates for important regional initiatives, projects and services so they get planned, funded and delivered. This work supports regional goals for a more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant Bay Area.
California state law shapes many transportation and land use decisions across the Bay Area. MTC has the authority to plan, finance and coordinate priorites across the Bay Area’s 101 cities, nine counties and 27 transit agencies.
MTC advocates in Sacramento so that state policies and funding decisions align with and advance adopted regional goals.
Advocacy Principles
At a high-level, here are the current objectives and goals for state advocacy work. See the 2025 Advocacy Program for specifics.
- Transportation Funding and Cap and Trade
- Transit Transformation Action Plan and other Public Transit System Improvements
- Bay Area Housing Finance Authority and Housing Production, Preservation and Tenant Protection (“3 Ps”)
- Regional Transportation and Land Use Planning and Funding
- Regional Housing Needs Determination (RHND) and Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
- Transportation System Effectiveness
- Transportation Project Delivery
- Plan Bay Area 2050 Implementation
- Climate, Resilience and Environment
Working Together on the Federal, State & Regional Levels
MTC's advocacy work in Washington traditionally focuses on the overall federal transportation program, and on support for capital investment in Bay Area transportation priorities.
MTC collaborates with city and county transportation leaders, transit agencies and other partners to advance shared regional priorities.
MTC’s state and federal advocacy efforts are guided by the Joint MTC ABAG Legislation Committee.
Committee meetings cover the latest developments in Sacramento and Washington, as well as recommendations by MTC staff to support or oppose particular bills.
The Partnership Legislative Committee provides a forum to consult on key policy matters with legislative staff from the Bay Area’s cities and counties, public transit agencies and county transportation agencies.
Staff Contact
To be added to the email list for this committee, contact Rebecca Long, Director, Legislation & Public Affairs, at rlong@bayareametro.gov.
2025-2026 Legislative History is a detailed list of bills the ABAG and MTC are tracking in Sacramento, including those ABAG or MTC supports or opposes.