The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) oversees the planning, financing, coordination, and management of transportation in the Bay Area, working to integrate bus and rail systems in the region. In the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the MTC created the 32-member Blue Ribbon Transit Recovery Task Force to advance transit service integration and guide the recovery of public transit across the region. Key questions centered around how new governance models could be designed to more effectively manage a public transit network that is equitable, inclusive, frequent, affordable, accessible, and reliable.  

Access provided leadership in the development and evaluation of regional network management models and business case development. Working closely with MTC leadership, and advisory committee of operators and local advocates, we established the case for regional transit network integration, and developed a framework for evaluating how accountabilities and authorities should be distributed based on regional and local interests and priorities. Our team facilitated dialogue between staff and executives at over two dozen agencies to drive toward new insights on regional transit governance that reflect shared values and interests.