About MCAG

Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) is an association of city and county governments, with members who meet to solve regional problems such as transportation, solid waste and air quality. MCAG is where the cities and the county come together as equal partners to solve problems that can only be accomplished by working together.

MCAG is designated as the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and the regional transportation planning agency for the Merced region.  The 11-member MCAG Governing Board includes a supervisor from each of the five county districts and an elected official from each of the six incorporated cities located within the political boundary of Merced County.  The governing board also serves as the Transit Joint Powers Authority for Merced County and the Merced County Regional Waste Management Authority Board.

Members: Merced County; Cities of Atwater, Dos Palos, Gustae, Livingston, Los Banos and Merced

Transportation and SB 375

Regional Transportation Plan

MCAG’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) has served as a guide for transportation planning activities in Merced County for many years. The RTP is a long-range (20 year) transportation planning document that establishes the region’s transportation goals, objectives and policies. The last RTP update was adopted in July 2010, including an update to the environmental impact report.

Sustainable Communities Strategy

MCAG  is beginning the development of Valley Vision Merced, a long range planning document that will provide the framework for investment in roads, freeways, public transit like buses, bike trails and other ways people move around Merced County for the next 25 years.  Valley Vision Merced will serve as MCAG’s sustainable communities strategy and accomplish three main tasks:

1. Identifies areas to accommodate all the region’s population including all income groups, for at least the next twenty- five years.
2. Results in the development of a regional transportation plan that meets the needs of the region.
3. Reduces greenhouse-gas emissions from automobiles and light trucks.

Public Participation

MCAG’s public participation plan, updated in draft form August, 2011, includes an extensive list of participation strategies that staff use on a case-by-case basis as well as a list of the agencies nine policies on public participation.

Housing

As mandated by the State MCAG adopted their Regional Housing Needs and Allocation Plan in 2007, to help project future housing needs up to 2014.  Valley Vision Merced will include a plan to accommodate the region’s future housing needs.

Other Programs and Projects

Under Construction

Videos

Valley Visions English

Source: MCAG’s Youtube Page