Nominate Priority Sites & Priority Development Areas

Bay Area local governments are invited to nominate Priority Development Areas (PDAs) and Priority Sites. All PDAs and Priority Sites nominated by the program deadlines listed below will be included in Plan Bay Area 2050+ and will be eligible for future planning, infrastructure or housing funds dedicated to these programs.

MTC staff will review applications on a rolling basis and respond to applicants within two weeks. Formal approvals will be made by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Executive Board during fall and winter 2023.

Priority Development Areas Nominations

PDAs are districts near public transit that are planned for new homes, jobs and community amenities. The 216 PDAs that have already been established to date include downtowns, main streets and large reuse areas.

The deadline to nominate new PDAs is July 31, 2023. The boundaries of previously adopted PDAs may be revised during this period as well. All new or modified PDAs will be included in Plan Bay Area 2050+. Download the PDA application.

Priority Sites Nominations

Approved by MTC and ABAG in March 2023, the new Priority Sites program will establish a pipeline of regionally significant, locally-nominated sites that are close to transit and services and are planned for mixed-income and affordable housing. Examples of potential Priority Sites include surplus public parcels, aging shopping centers included in Housing Element updates, and rail station parking lots. Priority Sites may be inside an existing PDA, or part of an expanded or new PDA nominated during the 2023 application window.

The deadline to nominate Priority Sites is September 31, 2023. Nominate a Priority Site.

Coming Soon: Priority Sites Pilot Funding

MTC and the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) have allocated $28 million for a pilot program to provide predevelopment financing for affordable housing on Priority Sites. To be eligible for funding, projects must be located within a nominated Priority Site. BAHFA will issue a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) once necessary state approvals for this funding are secured.

Potential project sponsors can review the Priority Sites Pilot Term Sheet and Underwriting Guidelines approved by the BAHFA Board for additional details.    

For questions, please contact Contact Mark Shorett at mshorett@bayareametro.gov.