Transit Priority Policy for Roadways

In January 2026, MTC adopted the Transit Priority Policy for Roadways (MTC Resolution No. 4739). The Policy is designed to enhance the transit rider experience by supporting implementation of transit priority infrastructure and policies that improve transit travel times and reliability. In particular, the Policy encourages transit agencies and roadway owners (like cities) to work together to minimize unintended impacts to transit and add transit-supportive design elements to roadway projects.

Policy Goals

Overall, the intent of the Policy is to help transit better serve people’s needs and move more people in the Bay Area by:

• Establishing a common definition of transit priority;
• Strengthening inter-jurisdictional coordination and guiding agencies to consider transit in roadway projects; and
• Informing prioritization of funding for transit priority projects.

Staff Contact

Email: transitpriority@bayareametro.gov

Implementation

Transit Coordination via Complete Streets Policy Checklist

The Policy applies to projects along any public roadway (including surface streets and access-controlled highways) with public transit service that operates in shared or semi-dedicated right-of-way (such as bus, light rail and streetcar services) that seek over $250,000 of regional discretionary funding or MTC endorsement.

The Policy is implemented through the existing MTC Complete Streets Checklist process, developed as part of the MTC Complete Streets Policy (MTC Resolution No. 4493).  Learn more about the Complete Streets Checklist.

Agencies applying for regional discretionary funds or MTC endorsement use the Complete Streets Checklist to make sure that the needs of people biking, walking, rolling and taking transit are considered at the earliest stages of project development.

Additional Resources

• Transit Priority Policy for Roadways: Guidance for Implementing Agencies: Project sponsors can use this guide to determine Policy requirements for their roadway projects.
• Transit Route Identification Tool: Project sponsors can use this tool to identify published transit routes within the project area and within 1/2 mile of the project, to inform the transit coordination and review process.
• Transit Agency Contacts & Published Maps: Project sponsors can use this list to contact transit agencies serving their project area and view online maps. 
• Transit Agency Review Form: Transit agencies can use this template when reviewing roadway projects.
• Transit Review Exception Form: Project sponsors can use this form to claim exception from the Transit Priority Policy for Roadways. 
• Guidance on Optional Local Transit Priority Resolution or Policy: Local jurisdictions are encouraged to adopt their own local transit priority policy or resolution and can use this template as a starting point.  

Coming Soon: Regional Transit Priority Network

MTC is developing a regional Transit Priority Network (TPN) of key transit roadways that will be prioritized for regional discretionary funding to develop and implement transit priority projects.  Work is already underway to assess existing transit reliability and travel time conditions and develop the TPN through the Transit Priority Roadway Assessment.

Once the TPN is adopted by MTC (anticipated in early 2027), sponsors of projects along the TPN will need to consider reasonable transit-supportive design elements to include in projects, per Policy requirements.