MTC Enters Final Week of Recruitment For New Policy Advisors

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission – the Bay Area’s transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency – reminds Bay Area residents that the deadline for applications to join its 27-member Policy Advisory Council is fast approaching. Applications will be accepted through Monday, June 12, 2017.

The Policy Advisory Council is a citizen advisory committee created by MTC to advise the Commission on a range of topics including regional planning, housing, land use, greenhouse gas reduction, public transit improvements, and new revenues for transportation in the Bay Area. Advisors will jump into the thicket of transportation, learn about the complexities of funding, and help analyze the connections between transportation, land use, air quality and climate change.

Applicants must be willing to serve a four-year term currently scheduled to begin in September 2017 and to end in July 2021. Committee meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month in the afternoon at MTC’s offices in San Francisco. Members receive a small stipend and travel reimbursement for attendance at each meeting. Membership of the Policy Advisory Council is structured around interests related to the economy, the environment and social equity.

“MTC works hard to make decisions about transportation policy and investment that serve all Bay Area residents,” said Commission Chair and Rohnert Park Mayor Jake Mackenzie. “The Policy Advisory Council helps ensure we consider a range of viewpoints. I encourage anyone interested in helping us improve Bay Area mobility to apply for a seat.”

Nine economy and environment representatives will be appointed to at-large seats. Appointment recommendations are made by Chair Mackenzie and Commission Vice Chair and Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty. The make-up of these nine representatives must be as follows:

• Four of the nine members represent economic interests, and four bring an environmental perspective; the ninth member may be selected from either category.
• In addition, five of the nine must be from each of the five most populous Bay Area counties – Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara.

Eighteen equity representatives will be appointed, and are recommended by Commissioners in each county. These 18 representatives will include:

• Nine members (one from each county) representing communities of color and issues affecting low-income residents or environmental justice.
• Nine members (one from each county) representing issues related to transportation for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Individuals representing economic, environmental or equity interests should have either a work, academic or extensive volunteer background in the subject, or have life experiences that have made them extremely familiar with these issues.

New Council members will be expected to attend their first meeting on September 13, 2017. To apply for a vacant position or to learn more about the Policy Advisory Council, visit mtc.ca.gov/whats-happening/news/mtc-recruits-new-policy-advisory-council-term or call 415.778.6706.