San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG)

Metropolitan Planning Organization Profile July 19, 2013

About SJCOG

The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) serves as the regional transportation planning agency, which provides a forum for regional decision-making on issues such as growth, transportation, environmental management, housing, open space, air quality, fiscal management and economic development. SJCOG also takes a look at population statistics, airport land use, habitat and open space planning and other regional issues.

SJCOG is overseen by a Board of Directors which makes allocations of funding to build transportation improvements. The board also establishes regional transportation policies and programs. Citizens, special or community-interest groups, and other agencies are involved in the planning and approval process. Areas of public participation include SJCOG’s committees and task forces as well as attending workshops or public forums and providing input on planning decisions.

Members: San Joaquin County; Cities of Escalon, Lathrop, Lodi, Manteca, Ripon, Stockton and Tracy

Transportation and SB 375

Regional Transportation Plan

SJCOG’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) charts a course to the year 2040 and considers the role of transportation in the broader context of economic, environmental, and quality-of-life goals for the future, identifying regional transportation strategies to address our mobility needs.

The 2014 RTP Valley Visions San Joaquin will be the first regional transportation plan in San Joaquin County to contain a Sustainable Communities Strategy, the result of the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (SB 375).

Sustainable Communities Strategy

The Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) will coordinate future transportation investments and land use strategies to prioritize a multi-modal investment plan covering a 27-year period extending out to 2040. The SCS will demonstrate the ability of the San Joaquin region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light duty trucks through integrated land use, transportation and policies (five percent per capita by 2020 and 10 percent by 2035).

Public Participation Plan

SJCOG’s public participation plan, adopted in May of 2011, includes a detailed description of methods used by the agency to build public awareness about issues under consideration, and of strategies being used to seek input from traditionally underserved groups such as low income and minority residents.

Housing

As required by law, SJCOG has a Regional Housing Needs and Allocation Plan (RHNA) to address the future housing needs of the region. The most recent RHNA was adopted in August 2008.

Other Programs and Projects

Measure K

Measure K is the half-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation projects in San Joaquin County. With its original passage in November 1990, Measure K began laying the groundwork for two decades of funding for a system of improved highways and local streets, new passenger rail service, regional and inter-regional bus routes, park-and-ride lots, new bicycle facilities, and railroad crossings. Its innovative multimodal approach to transportation clearly distinguishes Measure K from other countywide sales tax programs.

Measure K Categorical Allocation Chart

Source: SJCOG’s Measure K Website

The categorical allocations of Measure K include local street repairs and roadway safety (35%), congestion relief projects (32.5%), railroad crossing safety projects (2.5%), and passenger rail, bus, and bicycles (30%), which includes dedicated funding for bus rapid transit and safe routes to schools.