Investing in Our Transportation Infrastructure

A Vision for the Future

Using Our Resources Wisely

Working With Our Neighbors

Information and Technology

Public Safety

Streamlining Decisions

Focus on the Future

The San Diego Region

The SANDAG Board of Directors

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With its 27 member agencies, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has embarked upon carrying out a first ever Regional Comprehensive Plan to help guide our unsurpassed quality of life. The region also has a 2030 Mobility Plan that details our transportation needs and provides a clear vision for a truly world-class public transportation network. In addition, there is the potential for voters to extend an existing half-penny, local sales tax, known as TransNet, to help fund critical transportation improvements through the year 2048. These are a few of the benchmarks being made by SANDAG.

Progress on regional decision-making continues as the new consolidated SANDAG moves forward. On January 1, 2003, Senate Bill 1703 (Peace), as amended by Assembly Bill 361 (Kehoe), called for the consolidation of all the roles and responsibilities of SANDAG with certain transit functions of the Metropolitan Transit System and the North County Transit District. SANDAG now is responsible for transit planning, programming, project implementation, and construction of transit projects in the region.

The new consolidated SANDAG provides more opportunities for regional decision-making that will improve the transportation system, protect open space and habitat, bolster our infrastructure, and enhance our quality of life.

The consolidation also means that the agency is no longer a voluntary association of local governments. Instead, SANDAG is a statutorily created agency. Voting amongst the agency’s 18 cities and county government is now based upon both membership and the population of each jurisdiction, providing for a more accountable and equitable representation of the region’s residents.

SANDAG is required by state law to prepare and submit a progress report on the consolidation to the Governor and Legislature by December 2004, and then make a similar report on a biennial basis. Also, the California Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) is charged with evaluating SANDAG as the new consolidated agency, and making recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by December 2005. The LAO will examine four areas: (1) effectiveness of current governance structure; (2) effectiveness in addressing transportation needs of the region; (3) effectiveness of addressing quality of life indicators; and (4) adequacy of scope and authority for regional decision-making.

SANDAG also reached agreement to combine efforts with the Automated Regional Justice Information System and consolidate operations under SANDAG. Starting in the spring 2004, SANDAG now oversees ARJIS and other criminal justice research efforts through the new Public Safety Policy Committee.