Plan Bay Area 2050 Draft Released

A regional plan for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area is available for public comment.

2 minute read

July 23, 2020, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments released this week the Plan Bay Area 2050 Draft Blueprint—a draft of a regional plan for growth and development in  the entire nine-county region of the San Francisco Bay Area.

"The Blueprint is a critical step in the Plan Bay Area 2050 process as the region strives to advance towards the adopted Vision of a more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant Bay Area for all," according to the website sharing the new draft. The announcement of the draft's release also came with a call for comments from the public. 

The plan calls for the implementation of 25 resilient and equitable strategies "to make progress toward a more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant Bay Area for all," according to the Plan Bay Area website. The video above, shared on the MTC YouTube channel, presents the plan as a chance to make the Bay Area more resilient in the face of challenges like the current pandemic. The video outlines the plan's proposals on transportation, housing, the economy, and the environment over the next 30 years.

An article by John King, behind the San Francisco Chronicle's paywall, also details the plan, noting that a slowing pace of growth is expected to coalesce in the South Bay Area, home of San José and the Silicon Valley.

Thursday, July 23, 2020 in San Francisco Chronicle

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18, 2026 - Mass Transit

The Gross Reservoir, a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains.

Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion

Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.

September 18, 2026 - Inside Climate News

A painted bus lane in NYC.

NYC DOT wants faster, more permanent street upgrades

The city is examining ways to build more concrete infrastructure without getting entangled in 'decades-long' projects.

September 21 - NYC Streetsblog

A woman looks at a utility bill.

'Something we’ve never seen before:' rising utility rates could strain city finances nationwide

Data centers, climate change and other factors have caused utility rates in the United States to increase by 38% since 2020.

September 21 - Smart Cities Dive

A person scuba diving in a coral reef off Guam.

Trump to overrule local leaders, lease millions of acres of America’s Pacific Island territories’ seafloors to mining companies

International law says that the Indigenous people of America’s territories have a right to prior and informed consent regarding projects that impact their countries.

September 21 - Grist