SEVERAL BAY AREA planning agencies convened in San Francisco to discuss and receive public comment on Plan Bay Area 2050+, a long-term plan of projects that could potentially affect the lives of millions in the region.
The board of commissioners for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments were mainly met by negative comments of the plan, with some going as far as questioning the work staff members conducted and challenged the need for projects dedicated to the environment.
Plan Bay Area 2050+ is the latest version of a joint planning project started in 2013 by the MTC — the region’s transportation coordination agency — and ABAG, which represents jurisdictions in the nine counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma.
The project is meant to highlight priorities to increase the standard of living in the Bay Area and how to achieve such outcomes over the next 25 years. Goals are outlined for transportation, housing, the environment, and the economy alongside a breakdown of estimated costs for said projects totaling $1.2 trillion.
Multiple speakers alleged the report’s estimate that the Bay Area’s population will grow from 7.7 million to 9.5 million was unrealistic and possibly distorts the rest of the plan.
Mei-Ling Stefan, a Sunnyvale resident, requested a deeper breakdown as to how the regional agencies were planning on acquiring revenue for the projects within Plan Bay Area 2050+.
The plan mentions broad pools of funding at different levels of government but does not explicitly list whether sources of revenue like the increase in bridge tolls from Regional Measure 3 passed by Bay Area voters in 2018 or a possible sales tax would contribute to the estimates.
“We should know how much of the expected revenue will come from future taxes, bonds or increased tolls in the Plan Bay Area 2050+ and higher costs of living,” said Stefan.
Commissioners said after the public comment session that energy should be dedicated to helping members of the public understand how estimations were derived so confusion could be avoided.
“I think that it’s really imperative that even though staff and longtime commission members may understand that whole context, many of us really don’t, and much of the public does not,” said Solano County Supervisor Mitch Mashburn.
Among the critiques of the plan, a few members of the public were pleasantly surprised to hear some progress in improving infrastructure.
“While there are certainly a lot of variables in doing a big, long-term plan, I am very glad that MTC is engaged in doing a plan that considers housing and land use and transportation together,” said Adina Levin.
Co-chairs of the meeting Napa County Supervisor Belia Ramos and environmental attorney Eddie Ahn urged more people to provide their feedback and comments to the commission. They said it helps to provide insight as to what is working and what parts of Plan Bay Area 2050+ could need some more work.
“Upon the close of the comment period on Dec. 18, 2025, staff will prepare a summary of all public comments received to inform our decision making prior to considering adoption of the draft plan and its related supplemental reports.” said Ahn.
Written comments of the plan can be submitted on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s website as well as the Association of Bay Area Governments at mtc.ca.gov and abag.ca.gov, respectively. Two additional hybrid public comment sessions will occur on Dec. 3 in Fremont and on Dec. 4 in Novato.
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