This glossary includes the agency types & responsibilities listed in the dropdown menu of our member profiles page. Visit our “Regions 101” article to learn more about the role of regions in California.
Agency Type:
- Congestion Management Agency (CMA) – A county designated public entity that prepares and implements a federally-required congestion management program in Transportation Management Areas that have a population exceeding 200,000. See CA Gov’t Code § 65089, 23 U.S.C. § 450.322, and 23 CFR Part 450.
- Council of Governments (COG) – A voluntary association of local governments formed for regional planning through the use of a joint powers agreement under Government Code § 6500.
- County Transportation Commission – A county level agency responsible for transportation planning, funding and administration under the Public Utilities Code §§ 130000 to 130105.
- Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) – A federally designated agency for transportation planning in urbanized areas that must create a regional transportation plan under federal law that includes a sustainable communities strategy under state law. See 23 U.S.C. § 134; 49 U.S.C. § 5303; CA Gov. Code § 65080.
- Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) – A state-designated agency for regional transportation planning and programming. See Gov. Code § 29532 – § 29532.1; Pub. Util. Code § 99214.
Responsibilities:
- Abandoned Vehicle Abatement – Program managing the removal of abandoned vehicles from public areas. See CA Vehicle Code (CVC) § 22710
- Airport Land Use Plan – Planning process ensuring land use compatibility around airports. See CA Pub. Util. Code § 21670
- Broadband Program – Initiative to expand and improve high-speed internet access.
- Census Data Center – Regional hub for collecting, analyzing, and distributing U.S. Census data.
- Energy Program – Effort to promote energy efficiency and alternative energy use.
- Funding Programming – Process of allocating and scheduling funds for transportation projects.
- Habitat Mitigation – Activities offsetting environmental impacts of development on natural habitats.
- Hot/Toll Lane Administrator – Agency overseeing operations and policies for toll or express lanes.
- Housing Trust/Financing – Mechanism for funding affordable housing through regional or local sources.
- Impact Fee Management – Administration of fees charged to developers to offset related regional infrastructure investments.
- Operates Transit – Agency responsible for running public transportation services.
- Planning Climate Resiliency – Developing strategies to adapt both infrastructure and communities to climate impacts.
- Regional Housing Needs Assessment – State-mandated evaluation of a region’s housing needs for all income levels. The regional housing need determinations happen every 8 years. California is currently in its sixth RHNA “cycle” (2023-2031). See Gov’t Code § 65584 et seq.
- Sales Tax Authority – Power to levy and manage transportation-related sales taxes.
- Service Authority For Freeway Emergencies – Program operating roadside call boxes and motorist aid services. See Streets & Highways Code §§ 2560–2565.
- TDA Funds Implementation – Managing distribution of Transportation Development Act funds for transit and non-motorized projects.
- Transportation Planning – An agency responsible for developing a regional transportation plan under state law.