MCAG 2026 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS)
3 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025030169
Lead Agency
Merced County Association of Governments
Document Title
MCAG 2026 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS)
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
10/22/2026
Document Description
The project, as defined pursuant to Public Resources Code, Section 21065, is the preparation of the 2026 RTP/SCS. The Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) prepared the RTP/SCS as required by Section 65080 et seq., of Chapter 2.5 of the California Government Code, federal guidelines pursuant to new requirements established in the federal surface transportation reauthorization, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century” (MAP-21), and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Acts, Transportation Conformity for the Air Quality Attainment Plan per 40 CFR Part 51 and 40 CFR Part 93, and requirements set forth in Assembly Bill 32, The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, and Senate Bill 375 The Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008. The 2026 RTP/SCS addresses all transportation modes including the multi-modal transportation system, motor vehicles, transit (commuter and local), rail (commuter and interregional), goods movement (rail freight and trucking), bicycle and pedestrian facilities, aviation systems, and transportation systems management (TSM) programs and projects considering the horizon year of 2049.
The project is the Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) 2026 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), a countywide, long-range transportation and land use planning document with a horizon year of 2049. The 2026 RTP/SCS updates the 2022 RTP/SCS and identifies transportation needs, goals, policies, implementing actions, projects, programs, and anticipated financial resources for Merced County. The RTP/SCS addresses a balanced multimodal transportation system, including highways and local roads; local and commuter transit; passenger and freight rail; trucking and goods movement; bicycle and pedestrian facilities; aviation; and transportation systems management. It includes a financially constrained program of transportation investments, updated project lists and pertormance measures, a financial element, and an environmental justice analysis. The Sustainable Communities Strategy integrates transportation planning with forecast land use and housing patterns to address regional greenhouse gas reduction targets under Senate Bill 375. The preferred alternative identified in the Final PEIR is Scenario C, Affordable Housing-Centered Growth. The plan considers population, employment, housing, and transportation needs through 2049 and supports investment in alternative transportation modes while accommodating identified highway capacity needs. The RTP/SCS provides the regional planning framework for the Federal Transportation Improvement Program {FTIP) and the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP). The PEIR evaluates implementation of the RTP/SCS at a program level, including cumulative and growth-inducing effects. Individual transportation projects remain subject to subsequent environmental review and applicable approvals as their scope, location, design, and funding are established. The Draft PEIR public review period began June 16, 2026, and ended July 31, 2026. The Final PEIR incorporates responses to comments and changes to the Draft PEIR and includes CEQA Findings and a Statement of Overriding Considerations (Exhibit A) and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (Exhibit B). The Final PEIR identifies significant and unavoidable environmental impacts to be considered by the MCAG Governing Board in acting on the RTP/SCS.
Contact Information
Name
Nav Bagri
Agency Name
Merced County Association of Governments
Job Title
Deputy Executive Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Atwater, Dos Palos, Gustine, Livingston, Los Banos, Merced
Counties
Merced
Regions
Countywide, Southern California
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
Merced County Association of Governments
Approving Agency Role
Lead Agency
Approved On
County Clerk
Merced
Final Environmental Document Available at
https://www.mcagov.org/301/Regional-Transportation-Plan
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
Yes
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
Yes
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
Attachments
Notice of Determination
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